NPQ coach positive about upcoming Fiji tourney

Coach Reo Arriola had his work cut out for him as he guided 11 of the Commonwealth’s elite junior netters as they competed in the recently concluded North Pacific Qualifying tournament in Guam the past week.

With the NMI netting six of the eight available slots against players from Guam, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, Arriola said the team has much to be proud of. Last year, the NMI bagged four qualifying slots.

“It was very good,” Arriola said during an interview yesterday. “We could only get up to seven players in [the team] because Mayuko [Arriola] is our only competitor in 18-and-under, and we got six so I’m really proud of the team. It was a good experience for everyone, even those that didn’t make it, but I have a good feeling we’ll be better next time out.”

Ensuring a slot to the ITF Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Championships in Fiji this summer were Tim Quan and Ralph Buenaventura in the boys’ 18-and-under division, Ji Hoon Heo in the boys’ 14-and-under division, Vivian Lee and Lila Mailman in the girls’ 14-and-under, and Mayuko Arriola in the girls’ 18-and-under.

“As days went by…they became very serious,” Arriola said. “They knew there was a lot on line and so they took things really seriously.”

Quan, Heo, and Mailman took the No. 1 spot in their divisions, while Buenaventura, Lee, and Arriola finished second in their age group. Only the top two finishers advance to the Fiji competition, which will be held from Aug. 16 to Aug. 20.

Coach Arriola said he was really impressed with the play of Quan, Buenaventura, and Heo, but added that the three, as well as the three female netters can improve their game before the tournament in Fiji.

Being the elder brother of Mayuko, coach Arriola also explained that although he is proud of his younger sister, she must continue to work hard especially because this is her first year competing in the 18-and-under category.

“The boys looked pretty good. Maybe because she’s [Mayuko] my sister, I know a lot more…I know she needs to work on her serve and forehand. It’s her first year in the 18-and-under, and I’m proud that she made it to the team.”

He added that because they have competed in the Pacific Oceania Championships in the past, Arriola, Heo, and Quan have a bit of an edge because of their experience.

“Overall, I think they’re going to do really good [in Fiji],” he said. “We have a lot of second year and third year people that have already been to Fiji so I think experience will really help them a lot.”

Coach Arriola also commented on his experience as a coach, citing that the experience was very positive and that he is willing to coach a team to the NPQ again.

“It was a very good experience. I’m glad Jeff [Race] prepared me really well for this and the team cooperated with me really well so I wouldn’t mind doing it again,” he said.

Arriola also expressed appreciation to the organizers and hosts who assisted them during their stay in Guam.

“All the hosts were very good. We had very good accommodation and I really appreciate the way they treated us over there. The player even went out to the movies and the mall, so we had a really good and fun time, ” he said.

Also representing the Commonwealth the best they could were Russell Buenaventura, Keith Gabaldon, Calvin Yang, Nicolas Son, and Audrey Motto.

The Guam tournament was held from June 13 to June 17.