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The Mililani girls tennis team may possess many attributes, but generosity certainly isn't one of them. Dynasty continues for Mililani girls
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe Trojans maintained their Oahu Interscholastic Association dynasty by capturing the league championship for the ninth straight year with a 3-2 win over Roosevelt yesterday at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii courts.
Kaiser prevented a Mililani sweep by winning the boys championship 3-1.
The Mililani girls, who finished second in the OIA West, were led by their doubles teams in their annual title march. Mililani won two doubles matches yesterday.
"This year we didn't have one outstanding player like we had in the past with Erin Hoe and Krystal Hangai," Mililani coach May Ann Beamer said. "But we had a lot of depth, especially in the doubles."
The team of Jaymi Gamiao and Nicole Duvall defeated Roosevelt's Asia Ponciano and Lauren Hashimoto 6-2, 7-5 in second-doubles. Lindsay Taguma and Andrea Takamiya beat Shaun Yamada and Ashley Taguma 6-1, 6-3 in third-doubles.
Audra Takara's 6-2, 6-2 second-singles win over Iris Kim clinched the title for Mililani.
"It's a big thing with the team," Beamer said. "Tournament players are the ones who get the most glory, but this is special because it's a team effort."
The Trojans retired from the first-singles and first-doubles matches after picking up their third victory.
After the awards presentation, several Trojan players hurried off to make the trek from Laie to Mililani to Waikiki to attend last night's junior prom.
Roosevelt fell short in its quest for its first OIA title after beating Pearl City in Wednesday's semifinals.
The Rough Riders used three-set wins in two doubles matches to edge Pearl City, but couldn't match Mililani's depth yesterday.
"We played hard, that's the main thing," Roosevelt coach Gary Okada said. "They tried very hard. Today Mililani was just better."
Kaiser's boys title was the Cougars' sixth overall and their first since 1993.
"We were in the finals two years ago and lost to Mililani, so this is a huge deal for those who played then," Kaiser coach Kristie Yamamoto said. "It's really important to them, they worked really hard for it all year long. They were on the court every day practicing, so they really earned it."
Kaiser took the early advantage when Wataru Mino defeated Brian Shin 6-2, 6-2 in first-singles and the second-doubles team of Kanpei Imai and Goh Yanagida beat Blaine Murobayashi and Jay Abrigo 6-2, 6-4.
Mililani's Jeremy Perron and Joel Maeshiro won their first-doubles match with Fuyuki Samejima and Shinichiro Sato 6-1, 6-2 to tighten the overall score.
The match was decided by Keita Imai's comeback win over Daniel Hines in second-singles. Imai lost the first set 4-6, but rallied to win the next two 6-2, 6-1.
"He just settled down," Yamamoto said. "He really figured out how to play and settled down into his game. Once he got into it he was OK, it just takes him awhile to get started."
Imai was aware the Cougars needed just one more win during his comeback and was almost apologetic for his strategy of hitting moonballs to stay alive in the second set before getting the momentum to swing his way.
"I was just afraid to lose, so I was dinking everything," said Imai, who lost his match in the team finals as a freshman two years ago.
With the team championships decided, the players will turn their attention to individual honors at next week's OIA postseason classic and the individual championships later this month.
Boys
Kaiser 3, Mililani 1Singles -- Wataru Mino (Kaiser) def. Brian Shin (Mililani) 6-2, 6-2; Keita Imai (Kaiser) def. Daniel Hines (Mililani) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles -- Jeremy Perron and Joel Maeshiro (Mililani) def. Fuyuki Samejima and Shinichiro Santo 6-1, 6-2. Kanpei Imai and Goh Yanagida (Kaiser) def. Blaine Murobayashi and Jay Abrigo (Mililani) 6-2, 6-4.
Girls
Mililani 3, Roosevelt 2Singles -- Carlie Uyemura (Roosevelt) def. Jena Gamiao (Mililani) 4-6, 3-5, ret. Audra Takara (Mililani) def. Iris Kim (Roosevelt) 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles -- Jaymi Gamiao and Nicole Duvall (Mililani) def. Asia Ponciano and Lauren Hashimoto (Roosevelt) 6-2, 7-5; Lindsey Taguma and Andrea Takamiya (Mililani) def. Shaun Yamada and Ashley Taguma (Roosevelt) 6-1, 6-3. Tiffany Akiyama and Darsie Ing (Roosevelt) def. Alohalani Castro and Ashley Takara (Mililani) 7-6 (7-4), 4-3, ret.
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