OIA tennis champions find their titles relative

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Farrington senior Mark Ilagan, above, beat Pearl City's Travis Damaso, while Chloe Bihag, below, topped Waipahu teammate Christie Pagatpatan. Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Farrington senior Mark Ilagan won the boys singles title that his brother Anthony captured in 2001 and 2002 for the Governors. Twins Andrew and Ryan Murakami of Leilehua won the doubles championship.

In the girls doubles final, sisters Marie and Joelle Tanaka won the title for Kailua.

And in girls singles, Waipahu senior Chloe Bihag won the championship over a fellow member of the Marauders 'ohana, sophomore teammate Christie Pagatpatan.

"I just wanted to make sure we both had fun," said Bihag, who won her third straight OIA title, 6-3, 6-1. "No matter who wins, the champion would be from Waipahu."

Despite being teammates, Bihag and Pagatpatan rarely compete against each other, even in practice. They play in different age groups on the junior circuit, and practice together maybe twice a week in non-competitive drills.

"I don't get to play her much, but today she was awesome," Pagatpatan said. "She was strong in her serve and approach."

At one point in the second set, as the two switched sides, Bihag stopped Pagatpatan, grabbed her shoulders and whispered encouragement into her ears.

"I told her, 'Just have fun ... don't show anyone that you're frustrated,' " said Bihag, who will play for the University of Hawai'i-Manoa next season. "I was rooting for her a lot in the semifinals, even though she was playing my friend from the outside leagues (Moanalua's Julienne Yamamoto). I was so proud of her when she won."

Ilagan defeating Pearl City junior Travis Damaso, 6-3, 6-1.

"I had to match (Anthony's) record and win one, too," Mark said. "Pretty much my whole game was on today, especially my mental game."

Ilagan, a left-hander, said he mainly tried to be accurate with his serve and pick his moments to hit winners.

"I went for placement (on the serves) and had to wait for the short ball, then put it away," Ilagan said. "I was a little tight in the first set, but I kinda got it going in the second."

Damaso said his strategy was to hit to Ilagan's backhand, but that proved tougher to accomplish as the match went on.

"It was working in the first set, but in the second set his serves beat me up," Damaso said. "He's good with his serves and volleys, and his service game was too strong. I couldn't even try to break him in the second set."

Ilagan, who lost in last year's state finals to Punahou's Robbie Lim, says he likes his chances better this time even with Lim returning.

"I know I have to be more focused, because I'm stepping up to another level," Ilagan said. "But I'm more confident now, and I've worked harder this year."

In boys doubles, the Murakamis of Leilehua defeated Roosevelt's Evan Hirata and Shimpei Kobori, 6-1, 6-3. In girls doubles, the Tanakas of Kailua defeated Leilehua's Tiffany Villanueva and Cassie Yoneshige 6-0, 7-5.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.