By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

WITH the island’s sand spikers still finding their form, a Russian pair stood out in the fifth qualifying tournament for the Pacific Games last Sunday at the PIC sandcourt.
Twins Sergey and Gregory Kunur, who are on Saipan for a 14-day visit, ruled the fifth qualifier, as the Russians were undefeated in the men’s division.
The Kunur siblings first challenged NMI coach Russ Quinn and his partner Greg Elliott with the Russians easily winning, 21-13.
The visitors faced Tyce Mister and Mark McDonald in the finals and prevailed, 23-21.
Mister and McDonald, who topped the fourth qualifier in November, whipped Rob Epley and Bruce Berline in the earlier match, 21-17, to arrange a final showdown with the Russians.
The loss to the visitors ended McDonald’s streak in the series of qualifying tournaments for the Pacific Games.
McDonald with partner Chris Nelson ruled the first three qualifiers. Nelson failed to play in the fourth qualifier forcing McDonald to look for a new partner to continue his winning ways.
McDonald and Mister, who with Nelson led NMI to a gold-medal finish in the 6th Micronesian Games on Saipan last year, seemed headed for back-to-back victories, as they won their opening match in the fifth trial.
But the Russians foiled the NMI bets’ bid and left an impressive mark in their first tournament on the island with a win over Mister and McDonald.
According to tournament organizer Jon Cramer, Sergey and Gregory Kunur were state champions in Russia.
The Kunur siblings are from Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East and arrived on Saipan on Jan. 3.
They were among the 130 tourist aboard Saipan’s first direct chartered flight from Russia
Meanwhile, only two pairs participated in the fifth qualifying tournament in the women’s division.
EJ Lee and Michelle Hammons, who dominated the fourth trial, failed to post back-to-back wins, as they bowed to Laurie Peterka and Gin Gridley.
The two pairs played two sets with Peterka and Gridley winning, 22-20, 21-17.
Only three trials are left and qualified players who wish to represent the NMI in the Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in August, must join the remaining qualifiers to earn points.
Points are given to participants based on their performance in each trial. First placers are given 10 points, eight for second, six for third, four for fourth and two for fifth.
The series of qualifying tournaments will account for 65 percent of the selection process.
20 percent will come from the players’ attendance in the series of training sessions with coach Russ Quinn. Two points will be awarded to every player for attending each session.
Failure to attend 50 percent or more of the training sessions will result in disqualification.
The remaining 15 percent will be based on Quinn’s evaluation of each player. In the evaluation, participants will be graded based on their overall fitness/shape, attitude, cooperation, skill level and techniques, which include passing, setting, spiking and service.
After a month break, the series of training sessions with Quinn will resume tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the PIC sandcourt.