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By Colin Leon Guerrero
It was an eventful Saturday afternoon for 15-year-old Joshua Cepeda as he captured the boy’s 18-and-under division gold medal in the Tennis Academy of Guam’s annual Junior Tennis Championships at the Sheraton Laguna Resort tennis courts. Cepeda went down to the wire with someone he knows fairly well, his nephew and double’s teammate 14-year-old Brian Tuncap, in an epic battle that Cepeda would eventually win 11-9.
The two were already primed up from having competed side by side in the doubles tournament where they also captured the gold together over Anthony John and Tom Park with a score of 10-8. But by the time their single’s match came around both boys went to their respective sides on the court and played a very dramatic final.
Tuncap would get the early advantage on his uncle going up quick in the first three games 2-1, but as the fourth game rolled around Cepeda started things off with a bang with a nice ace to give him a lead at 15-0. Josh would eventually end the match with another ace tying the score at two games apiece.
Throughout the entire match neither would give in, as the momentum was always shifting between the two young athletes. One of the highlights of the entire match was during the ninth game when Cepeda was spreading himself out using the whole court to save balls left and right trying to prevent Tuncap from scoring, which he eventually did after finding an open spot on the court. This particular game would come down to a couple of deuces before Tuncap gained the advantage and game, giving him the lead on the match, 5 games to 4.
When asked about his strategy Tuncap was looking to play smart and be consistent.
As for Cepeda he simply said, “Just go for it.”
It seemed that both of them stuck to their game plans as they found themselves battling for control in a pretty even matchup.
After a slew of back and forth games and a couple of deuces, fatigue was starting to show in both athletes. But it was at that time Cepeda locked his head into the game and started to take over. After allowing Tuncap to even things up at nine games each, Cepeda went in and closed things out winning two straight games. Cepeda ended the deuce-breaking game on a strong ace defeating Tuncap 40-love and winning the 18 and under singles finals.
OTHER FINALS RESULTS:
Boys’ 12 singles final: Eddie Chung def. Mason Caldwell 10-8
Boys’ 14 singles final: Brian Tuncap def. Andrew Chung 11-9
Girls’ 12 singles final: Nozomi Yamasawa def. Anika Sachdev 10-7
Girls’ 18 singles final: Camdyn Nadler def. Alyssa Bristol 10-3
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GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
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17th
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18th
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19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
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24th
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25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon