Team 4 sweeps junior division

From left, Daniel Kang, Yutaka Kadokura, and Helen Kim pose with their championship medals after winning the junior division of the first-ever Marianas Invitational Team Cup last weekend at the American Memorial Park. (Contributed Photo)

Team 4 made up of Daniel Kang, Yutaka Kadokura, and Helen Kim bulldozed over the competition to win the junior division of the first-ever Marianas Invitational Team Cup last weekend at the American Memorial Park.

Kang and company started things off with a 5-0 sweep of Team 1. That head-to-head saw Kang get the better of June Yu in the first men’s singles, 6-3. Kadokura then won in the same exact score against Si Woo Lee in the second men’s singles, before Kim nearly blanked Savita Sikkel, 6-1, in the women’s singles.

In the men’s doubles, Kang and Kadokura teamed up to hold back Yu and Lee, 6-3. Kadokura and Kim then brought out the broomsticks after a 6-1 victory over Yu and Sikkel.

Team 4 escaped with the skin of their teeth against a battle-tested Team 2, 3-2. Kang got things rolling with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Wataru Kadokura. Yutaka, however, was dominated by Simon Tang and lost 1-6. Good thing Kim shutout Anna Kwon, 6-0, to give favor back to Team 4.

In the men’s doubles, Wataru and Tang made it 2-2 following a 7-6 (5) conquest of Kang and Yutaka that set up the crucial mixed doubles. Kang and Kim eventually pulled out the victory, preserving Team 4’s spotless record in matches with a 6-4 triumph over Wataru and Kwon.

Participants of the senior and junior divisions of the first-ever Marianas Invitational Team Cup pose for a group last weekend at the American Memorial Park. (Contributed Photo)

Against Team 3, Kang and company got their second wind and also registered a 5-0 victory. Kang and Kadokura started fast and both zeroed Cody Shimizu and Eamon Tang in their respective men’s singles matches. Kim then nearly swept Irin Chung, 6-1, before Kang and Kadokura took the men’s doubles with a nip-and-tuck 7-5 win. Kang and Kim then formalized things with a 6-2 victory over Shimizu and Chung.

Team 4 completed a 4-0 sweep of their assignments following a 5-0 conquest of Team 5. Kang beat Nason Wessel, 6-4, to start their final match. Kadokura then outplayed Ki Won Lee, 6-1, while Kim was a 6-2 winner over Hoo Wang. In the men’s doubles, Kang and Kadokura prevailed after an exhausting 7-5 victory over Wessel and Lee before Kang and Kim closed the curtains on the tournament with a 6-3 victory over Wessel and Wang.

The Marianas Invitational Team Cup is the first time the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association organized a team event. NMITA president Jeff Race earlier thanked TanHoldings and TSL Foundation for their sponsorship of the event. He also gave kudos to Team 4 for winning the competition in the juniors age group and everyone who took part in the two-day event.

Team 5 made up of Jimin Woo, Sean Lee, and Isabel Heras topped the seniors division also over the weekend, amassing the same 4-0 win-loss record.