Previous Story
HANMI Cup organization meeting today
|
Posted on Aug 25 2008
The first official organizational meeting for the 3rd Annual HANMI Cup Inter-Hotel Basketball League will be held at 3pm today at The Magellan of the Pacific Islands Club.
League coordinator Lito “William” Espino said a total of seven teams have signified their interest in joining the competition, led by defending champion Fiesta Resort and Spa-Saipan Grand Hotel, last year’s runner-up PIC, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Saipan World Resort, Hafadai Beach Hotel, Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel, and returning Palms Resort Saipan, the former Hotel Nikko Saipan.
Espino said missing from this year’s field is inaugural champion Aqua Resort Club, which decided not to enter a team this year.
Like the previous two editions of the HANMI Cup Inter-Hotel Basketball League, the 2008-2009 season will be organized by the Northern Marianas Bartenders Association, where Espino is president.
For more information about this afternoon’s meeting, call Espino at 323-1135.
After Aqua Resort Club won in 2007, the HANMI Cup went through a rollercoaster season in its second year, which saw the combined Fiesta Resort and Spa and Saipan Grand Hotel team take home the title to the delight of its fans and employees.
Led by the high-scoring duo of Ryan Sanciangco and Elmer Esdrelon, the Asia Pacific Hotels, Inc. quintet defeated PIC in the winner-take-all finals last April, 87-72.
The game saw Fiesta-Grand draw 57 points from Sanciango and Esdrelon, while PIC was led by the 18 markers of Derrick Tudela.
On other side of the emotional spectrum, the 2007-2008 season witnessed the death of veteran cager Rick Alegre of Aqua Resort during an elimination round game against Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The league was postponed for a week to allow players to mourn Alegre’s death who won a number of most valuable player awards not to mention championships with his mother team, Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense, in the United Filipino Organization’s yearly basketball leagues.
