Tiebreakers go Sunnyside's way in D-II quarterfinals

Two singles matches were there for the taking in the Division II quarterfinals, Friday night.

No. 5 Sunnyside took them both.

Fourth-seeded Monache’s No. 3 and 4 singles players Drexler Alcantara and Brandon Newcom came up short in tiebreakers, leading to the Wildcats getting a two-point edge heading into the doubles round.

The Marauders had to sweep the doubles to advance to the semis but the Wildcats’ strategy made that all but impossible.

Instead of putting No. 1 player Jose Calderon in the top doubles match, he was placed in the third match against Monache’s less experienced players.

Calderon and Chakee Xiong easily topped Monache’s third duo (Mark Daen and JC Rodriguez) 6-2, 6-1, securing the 5-4 match win for the Wildcats.

Monache coach Gary Perez said Sunnyside’s strategy was a smart one considering the circumstances.

“Obviously it was a good one (decision),” Perez said. “You have to sometimes look at what is best for the team. Sometimes the No. 1s don’t like playing in the No. 3 spot, but it’s a team sport.”

The EYL-champion doubles team of Alcantara and Alex Phaphol prevailed 6-4, 6-2 in their doubles match and the No. 2 team of Goldie Rayani and Brandon Newcom also took their match (6-7, 6-2, 10-5) but those matches were merely for pride.

“It was a good, close match,” Perez said. “We had a couple of matches that went down to the third-set tiebreaker. We had our opportunities and just didn’t take care of business.”

Following Alcantara’s 6-3, 3-6 (8-10) loss, the crowd flocked to the No. 4 singles match that now loomed large. Newcom faced Ger Vang and handily outplayed him in the first set, winning 6-2. 

Vang would turn the tables on him and won 6-3 in the second set, setting up a crucial tiebreaker. Vang had Newcom on the ropes, 8-5, but the Marauder rallied to win the next three points to keep his team in it. Newcom had the momentum but would lose after two of his volleys couldn’t clear the net. 

Sunnyside now had a 4-2 edge.

“We only needed one point and we would’ve been in the same situation they were,” Perez said. “Both (Alcantara’s and Newcom’s matches) were pivotal. It’s a little disheartening to lose.

“It’s like I always tell the boys, ‘You never know which point is going to be the pivotal point in the match.’ Unfortunately, it got down to one point.”

Calderon was the most dominant player of the day, as he pushed Rayani’s singles losing streak to three with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. 

Perez said his No. 1 player’s footwork is the difference between the Rayani of April and the one of May.

“That’s a frustrating one for me too,” he said. “I’d like to see him playing better. In the first half of league, he was darn near untouchable. 

Earlier, he was moving better; right now, I don’t think he’s moving as well. He’s a little flat-footed and hitting off his back foot. 

A back injury could be the reason for the slump, but neither will say that’s the sole cause.

“He’s been complaining that his back’s a little sore and that could be it, too,” Perez said. “He wouldn’t use that as an excuse and I wouldn’t either.”

Rayani will have to shake this regression phase soon, as he faces Fowler’s Thomas Hernandez at today’s Individual Valley Tournament. 

Phaphol will team with Rodriguez, not Alcantar due to a social conflict, in doubles while Newcom and Adrian Ogma will make the trip to Clovis as well.

Singles play begins at 9 a.m. with doubles starting at 10:30, today, at Buchanan High School.