Jones vs Chang in boys’ 18 finals

Rafael Jones moved up to the boys’ 18-and-under division of the 2009 DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships and is a win away from his first title in the higher age group after advancing to the finals yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

Jones, who won the boys’ 14-and-under division title of the DFS netfest last year, topped Nathan Nutting in the semifinals in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, to arrange a title match against Woo Suk Chang.

Chang, who drew a bye in the first round, won in the other semis match, beating Sung Hooh Ham, 6-2, 6-4. Ham advanced to the semis after downing Andy Nutting, 6-4, 6-3, while Nathan prevailed over George Race, 6-4, 6-2. Jones gained a semis entry after whipping J.R. Aquino, 6-1, 6-0.

Joining Jones and Chang in the finalists list of the junior singles were Thea Minor, Lila Mailman, Tammy Ackerman, Negahr Rastguiy, Mikayla Lopez, Emily Jones, Jake Lee, Colin Ramsey, and Carl Dela Cruz.

Lee earned a crack at the boys’ 14-and-under title after beating Chris Cajigan in the semifinals of the lower half of the draw, 6-1, 6-3. Lee thwarted John Cano in the first round, 6-0, 6-3, and Clay McCullough-Stearns in the quarterfinals to advance in the semis against Cajigan. Cajigan defeated Cody Race, 6-1, 6-0, and Lucas Nutting, 6-4, 6-0, before bowing to Lee.

Lee will battle the boys’ 14-and-under title against the winner of the Christian Miller-Daniel Camacho tiff, which was played yesterday afternoon, but results were unavailable at press time.

In the girls’ 14-and-under, Rastguiy will square off with Lopez in the finals. Rastguiy downed Ilia Corella in straight sets in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4, to set a title game against Lopez, who won over Jean Bracken, 6-3, 6-1.

Dela Cruz and Ramsey will duel for the boys’ 10-and-under crown following their semis victories against Steven Goodwin, 6-0, and Moris Villanueva, 6-1, respectively.

The girls’ 10-and-under division finals will feature Ackerman and Emily Jones. Ackerman gained a finals ticket after outclassing Sakura Imaya, 6-4, while Jones whipped Carol Lee in the other semis game, 6-3.

In the girls’ 18-and-under division, Mailman topped Melody Johnson in the semis, 6-1, 6-1, and will face Thea Minor in the championship game this morning. Minor defeated Jodel Fernandez in the other semis game, 6-1, 6-4.

In the adults doubles, the pair of Mailman and Fernandez moved to the finals after walloping Sally Lee and Lydia Tan, 6-4, 6-4. The two junior players will duel in the women’s open doubles finals the winner of the Cleofe Santos and Kasumi Imai and Thea and Joy Minor semis game.

In the mixed 4.0 doubles, Santos and Roy Pangelinan will meet Matty Buenaventura and Ronnie Lacbayo in the finals.