Fall Classic winners feted in ‘formal’ banquet

CNMI coach and tournament director Jeff Race dressed-up for the award ceremony of the 2008 Fall Classic Junior Tennis Championships Tuesday night at the Azucena Hall of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

Race was in a blue coat and tie instead of the usual tennis outfits he wears during and after the games.

What was with the formal clothing?

“It was for the night of celebration, not only for those who won, but for all the players, for their parents, and for the CNMI junior tennis program,” Race said.

The Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association had a lot to celebrate for after the Fall Classic, which was played in three days at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

First on the list was Tan Holdings Corp.’s sponsorship of the annual tournament.

“It was the first time in 10 years that a company has sponsored the Fall Classic. We know that Tan Holdings has been supporting so many sports and to add junior tennis on the list in this time of financial difficulties only shows that the company is committed to help every member of the sports community in any possible way it can,” Race said.

Tan Holdings donated glass trophies for the Fall Classic and hosted the awards banquet at Fiesta.

Lynn Knight, vice president for corporate affairs for Tan Holdings, was at the awards rites to hand trophies to the top two finishers in the boys and girls’ 10-and-under, 14-and-under, and 18-and-under age group competitions,

Knight assured NMITA that Tan Holdings is committed to supporting the Fall Classic tournament next year and vowed to help make the event bigger in 2009.

This year’s Fall Classic featured a record number of 62 participants and this mark was another thing Race and NMITA celebrated Tuesday night.

“It was the biggest Fall Classic event, and perhaps the biggest junior tournament here. We had 110 matches, many tough matches, especially in the boys 10-and-under and 14-and-under,” said Race.

“You see kids and their parents patiently waiting for the matches staying almost the whole day at AMP. I am delighted to see this kind of commitment from these young players and their supportive parents,” he added.

Race said another thing to celebrate for was having new participants or those moving up to a higher age group challenged the tournament’s favorites and players who had played in international events.

Chris Cajigan, who played in the 14-and-under division after ruling the 10-and-under last season, gave NPQ veteran Rafael Jones a run for his money in the semifinals before bowing, 8-7. Jones eventually lost to rival Christian Miller in the finals.

The diminutive Neghar Rastguiy, who is only 10 years old, competed in the 14-and-under and made it into the finals before losing to Ilia Corella, 8-5.

Jodel Fernandez, who has been playing for less than a year, was runner-up to Thea Minor in the girls’ 18-and-under division.

Despite lacking in actual tournaments, Tinian-based Benjie Decena still had the winning form that allowed him to beat Woo Suk Chang in the finals of the boys’ 18-and-under.

Then there was the 16-field boys’ 10-and-under division which had returning Kennedy Isuka as the last man standing, surviving vastly improved Dylan Ackerman in the finals.

Finally, in the girls’ 10-and-under division, Tammy Ackerman assured the Ackermans two glass trophies for the night when she topped Emily Jones in the finals

“Seeing how these kids play, win or lose, in finals or in consolation matches, was enough to celebrate the bright future ahead for CNMI junior tennis,” Race said in his closing remarks.