DANIEL Kang, Yutaka Kadokura and Helen Kim of Team #4 ruled the junior division of the Marianas International Invitational Team Cup at American Memorial Park on Saturday.
Team #4’s Daniel Kang, Yutaka Kadokura and Helen Kim pose for a photo after topping the junior division of the Marianas International Invitational Team Cup at American Memorial Park on Saturday.
Their individual skills and teamwork were key to their match victories.
Against Team #5’s Nason Wessel, Ki Won Lee and Hoo Wang, Team #4 went to work. In their singles match, Kang went head to head against Wessel with neither able to gain the upper hand. Fortunately, Kang was able to get a better grip toward the end of the match to defeat Wessel 6-4. Kadokura then triumphed against Ki Won Lee 6-1 while Helen Kim bested Hoo Wang 6-2.
In the men’s doubles, however, Team #4’s Kang and Kadokura had to extend the set against Wessel and Lee. It was not until late in the match when Team #4 managed to outgun Team #5 with quicker returns en route to a 7-5 victory.
In the mixed doubles, Team #4’s Kang and Kim were in sync as they took down Wessel and Wang 6-3 to complete the sweep.
Team #4 continued to display dominance as its players silenced Team #3’s Cody Shimizu, Eamon Tang and Irin Chung.
Kang and Kadokura had a perfect run in the singles, defeating Shimizu (6-0) and Tang (6-0) while Kim added a third win, this time over Chung 6-1.
The doubles event was no different as Kang and Kadokura outlasted Shimizu and Tang 7-5 while Kim and Kang trounced Shimizu and Chung 6-2.
Team #4’s third sweep came in its match against Team #1’s June Yu, Si Woo Lee and Savita Sikkel.
Kang bested Yu 6-3, Kadokura defeated Si Woo 6-3 while Kim overwhelmed Sikkel 6-1.
The chemistry of Kang and Kadokura was unmatched as they powered through Yu and Si Woo, 6-3, while Kadokura and Kim sealed the deal with a 6-1 victory against Yu and Sikkel.
Team #4’s toughest opponent was Team #2’s Wataru Kadokura, Simon Tang and Anna Kwon.
Team #4’s Kang drew first blood by taking down Wataru Kadokura 6-4 but Tang equalized with a win for Team #2 against Yutaka Kadokura 6-1.
Team #4 tried to regain the advantage with Kim’s win over Kwon 6-0 but Team #2’s Wataru Kadokura and Tang edged Kang and Yutaka Kadokura in the men’s doubles 7-6(5) to tie the match score.
Despite their valiant efforts, however, Team #2’s Wataru Kadokura and Kwon fell short against Kang and Kim who won the final mixed doubles game 6-4 to notch victory in the team match, 3-2.
