The Cerritos College men’s tennis team advanced four single players and two doubles teams to the Southern California Regional Tournament.
In the quarterfinals, sophomore Jony Chai defeated teammate and freshman Ryan Ilagan (6-0, 6-0).
Chai was the number No. 2 seed in the tournament and a part of the No. 1 seed doubles team with Derek Siddiqui.
The duo was unable to compete in a match because of the lack of doubles teams in the tournament.
Siddiqui who was the No. 1 ranked player in the tournament and is the No. 1 ranked player in all of Southern California.
Not only did he advance, but he gained player of the year honors for the second time.
In the quarterfinals match, he beat El Camino College’s John Fischer (6-1, 6-1), joining Chai and two other teammates.
Freshman JP Elchico (6-2, 6-1) and freshman Kyle Porter, who beat his opponent (6-4, 6-3), were those teammates.
On the first day of tournament play, Elchico was also a part of a doubles team with sophomore Tomas Pierson-Perez that won (6-4, 7-5).
While the women had a promising start to the tournament with four single players moving on to the second round of the SCC Tournament, only freshman Kimberly Diaz will advance to the regional tournament.
After winning her first match of the tournament, Diaz said, “I started out really nervous, but I pulled through. I hope I win. I just have to do my best.”
Also competing at the Southern California regional tournament is the doubles team of freshman Diana Casiano and freshman Dominique Luna.
The team won its first match on the first day of tournament play (6-4, 6-4).
Coach Alvin Kim was awarded coach of the year honors last week. Kim is not worried about the injuries of last year.
Kim said, “Jony Chai had a back spasm that’s probably 90 percent recovered. We’re still treating it so it won’t reoccur during the playoff crush. Derek Siddiqui (wrist) seems to have it under control.”
Siddiqui has stated throughout the season that his wrist is “not a problem anymore.”
Regional play will start May 5 through 7 at Grossmont College.
