Positive feedback on road to Micro Games

Another interesting week is in the books after athletes and teams from various sports made headlines.

Micronesian Games Council president Bill Keldermans and Palau National Olympic Committee Sports Development Officer Jubilee Kuartei were on island and met with the Micro Games Organizing Committee, with Keldermans stressing that he was impressed with the way that the CNMI has come together to make the Games happen in such a short amount of time and that he sees no problems on the horizon.

CNMI men’s National cage team coach Rufino Aguon also named eight players to the team, including Jeremy Sablan, James Lee, Mark Wallace, Steve Rasa, Dan Barcinas, Mel Manibusan, Gus Palacios, and Kelvin Fitial, while adding that others still fighting for slots are Aleric Aguon, John Sablan, Jeremy Winkfield, and James Villacrusis.

Tennis coach Jeff Race also named himself, Tim Quan, Todd Montgomery, and Ralph Buenaventura to the men’s team, with Nicolas Son and Ji Hoon Heo fighting for the final slot.

He also added that CNMI No. 1 Kana Aikawa may not suit up for the Games. Others in the women’s team include Mayuko Arriola, and 14-year-olds Vivian Lee, Audrey Motto, and Lila Mailman.

Action on the hard courts was intense as teams in the Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League and Inter-Government Basketball League fought for slots in the championship games.

No. 2 ranked Garapan Rollers I were able to push the right buttons and defeated the Chalan Kanoa Kings in the IVYBL semis Wednesday to reach the finals and earn the right to face pennant champion San Antonio Sixers I, while the H.O.M Saints claimed third place by beating the Kings in the consolation game Thursday.

Department of Public Safety Enforcers and Tinian set up their best-of-three finals in the IGBL. The Enforcers defeated Public School System on Monday and eliminated No. 2 Department of Labor on Wednesday, while pennant champion Tinian erased a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to dethrone No Zone Wednesday evening.

Many were also prepping for the 4th Annual NMC Foundation Open, while play in the 6th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League also resumed. Action in the Saipan Little League, on the bowling alleys, golf courses, and Saipan Major League also continued.