By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

FAMILIAR faces ruled the 13th UMDA-CNMI Junior Tennis Championships after three days of competition at the Pacific Island’s Club hardcourt and American Memorial Park tennis courts.
Ji Hoon Heo, who has been dominating tournaments in the 18-and-under age group, asserted his mastery over Nicolas Son with a straight set win in the finals, 6-4, 6-2.
Heo advanced to the title match after downing Tinian’s Benjie Decena, 6-0, 6-2, while Son completed the finals cast after thwarting Russell Buenaventura, 6-1, 6-0.
More players joined this year’s boys’18-and-under division, as Decena, James Camacho, Ho Suk Chang, Buenaventura and Joseph Jang moved up from to the older age group after playing in the boys’13-and-under last year.
Joe Motto, Jr., who topped the boys’ 10-and-under two years ago and lost in his debut in the boys’ 13-and-under last year, delivered this time beating Rafael Jones in the finals, 6-4, 6-4.
Motto prevailed over Clay McCullough-Stearns in the semis, 6-2, 6-0, to set up a finals match against Jones, who downed Christian Miller in the other semis game, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
In the girls’ 13-and-under division, which had a round robin format, Thea Minor was undefeated in three games.
The 12-year old Minor, who like Heo has been ruling competition in her age group and has been playing in the much tougher boys’ division, blanked Michaela Grandinetti and Jessica Soll and capped her perfect record with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over sister Theecel.
Only two players were entered in the girls’ 18-and-under with Mayuko Arriola prevailing over Lila Mailman.
Neghar Rastguiy was undefeated in three games to dominate the girls’ 9-and-under age group anew.
Rastguiy whipped Isabel Heras, 6-0, and Emily Jones, 6-1, last Saturday. She won her third game against Liza Atalig, 6-0, and secured the championship with a hard earned 7-6 win over Gabrielle Race, who was undefeated in three matches before bowing to Ratguiy.
The boys’ 9-and-under division featured 13 players with Chris Cajigan topping the list after downing Michael Grandinetti, 6-1.
Cajigan moved into the finals after beating Quintin Ramsey in the semis, 6-2, while Michael prevailed over Colin Ramsey. Quintin placed third after tripping brother Colin, 6-2.