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The Week in Sports
Local tournaments retake spotlight
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- Sam Jones stretches for a return, while teammate Glenn Bluutjens looks on during their men’s A doubles division game against Aries Cordero and Ferdie Arago in the opening week of the 2014 Shirley’s Badminton Classic at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- Lani Bartolome steps in front for a return during her and Windy Fernandez’s game against Jen Savellano and Janine Pangilinan in the women’s A doubles division of the 2014 Shirley’s Badminton Classic last weekend at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- A Mariana Resort player loses his dribble as Hyatt Regency Saipan defenders and his teammates crowded the paint during the third quarter of their game in the Inter-Hotel caging last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- World Resort’s Kae Bernardo drives to the baseline against Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Jun Alipio during the first quarter of their game in the Inter-Hotel caging last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- ROSELYN B. MONROYO The flight winners in the 19th Tournament of Champions pose for a photo last week at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- Ladies Flight champion Leina Kim celebrates her win with fellow players during the awards ceremony for the 19th Tournament of Champions held last week at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- I Love Saipan’s Leo Ruluked towers above two Armatech players in this rebound play during the second quarter of their game in the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Leading the list of local offerings last week was the 19th Tournament of Champions held at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort. The two-day competition lured more than 150 golfers with no less than CNMI’s pride Leina Kim standing tall in the male-dominated tournament.
Kim recorded the lowest gross in the two-round competition with her 3-under par 141. She was the lone golfer in the field to go under par in this year’s TOC. The Colorado State University-Pueblo standout shot an even par 72 in the first round and a 3-under par 69 in the second and final round for a big 22-stroke winning margin over Guam junior golfer Rachel Peterson.
The former CNMI golfer’s score was better than eventual Championship Flight winner Geon Ju Lee (148) and last year’s champion Daryl Poe (149) of Guam. Joining Kim on the flight champions list were Super Senior’s Edward Manibusan, Seniors’ Barry Wilson and Vic Borja, A’s Jun Suk Kim, B’s Takao Urusawa, and C’s Namki Kim.
Meanwhile, other local events held last week were the 2014 Shirley’s Badminton Classic and the various basketball leagues.
In badminton, favored players and teams in the Shirley’s Coffee Shop-sponsored competition delivered with Andreau Galvez, Ferdie Arago, Hannah Choi, Jen Savellano, Janelle Pangilinan, Glenn Bluutjens, and Sam Jones winning their respective matches at the TSL Sports Complex.
At the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, Fiesta Resort & Spa remained unbeaten in the Inter-Hotel caging, moving up to a 4-0 record, following a 69-49 win over Mariana Resort. World Resort is in second place with its 4-1 slate after downing Hyatt Regency Saipan, 54-50. Before losing to World Resort, Hyatt bagged its second straight win after topping Mariana Resort last Tuesday, while the third-running Pacific Islands Club defeated Kanoa Resort.
Still at the Ada Gym for the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup, Armatech also retained its clean slate (3-0) after beating I Love Saipan, while Maria Resort (4-1) got two more wins after routing Degree and Hawaiian Rock. PIC Chef also won in the Emon Lodge caging last week, slipping past Degree, 74-73.
Over at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court for the DLX caging, the Bandits won over Hite, while defending champion Ali’i topped Morales Boys.
