Previous Story
JP World caging eyes reopening next month
Organizers of the 2nd JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League are hoping to resume games at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium in the first week of November.
Joeten’s Ferdie Tobias, right, surveys the floor before passing the ball, while Tan Holdings’ Jared Matsutaro stays close on defense during their game in the JP World caging last July at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)
The league that just started late July was halted early in the season after Typhoon Soudelor struck Saipan last Aug 2 and left the island without power for several weeks. Other villages are still without power, including some areas in Middle Road where the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium is located
Before matches were suspended, the JP World caging managed to hold a pair of games last July 31 with last year’s finalist Micronesian Brokers, Inc./Kentucky Fried Chicken beating Docomo in the first game and Tan Holdings downing Mariana Resort in the nightcap.
With their separate wins, Tan Holdings and MBI/KFC moved up to a tie for first place in the team standings of the 10-squad field. Tan Holdings recorded its other victory over Joeten, 88-60, while MBI/KFC got its first win against Commonwealth Utilities Corp., 86-78.
Docomo absorbed its first loss in only two games, while Mariana Resort holds the same 1-1 record. Docomo won its opener against Top Development, Inc., 92-79, while Mariana Resort earlier prevailed versus McDonald’s, 84-49. Joeten joined Docomo and Marina Resort in a triple tie for third place in the team standings as the former bounced back from its debut loss with a 59-56 victory against McDonald’s
Two other teams—Saipan Ice and Cape Air—are entered in the second edition of the annual caging. Saipan Ice owns a 1-0 slate following its 78-41 rout of Cape Air last July 27.
Once the league returns to action, it will follow the remaining schedule in the round-robin competition. Under the original schedule (Aug. 3), Cape Air is supposed to meet Tan Holdings in the first match and Saipan is set to challenge CUC in the second tiff.
League coordinator Marlon Sison hopes CUC is no longer busy next month and will be able to play its remaining games. The same goes for Docomo, whose staff is working on restoring cable services to Saipan residents since the super typhoon hit the island hard.
