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Ol’Aces teams lead cast in Diaz memorial caging
The Ol’Aces’ Nak Nakashima pulls up for a baseline jumper during their boys U19 title game against the Sonics in the Tan Holdings caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The Ol’Aces are fielding teams in all divisions of the Francisco M. Diaz Memorial Youth Basketball League (formerly Rotary caging) that will kick off on Feb. 29 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The Ol’Aces, whose boys U19 team is fresh from a title conquest in the Tan Holdings holiday caging, will have two teams each in the U15, U18, and U21 age groups.
Joining the Ol’Aces in the U15 division are the Sonics, Kagman Risers, Rollers, and one more team whose name has yet to be decided. In the U18 division, the Ol’Aces two squads will battle the age group crown against two teams from Sonics, and one each from Rollers and San Antonio, and one squad under Boy Garcia. For the U21 age group, the Sonics and Rollers will compete against two Ol’Aces squads, but the number of teams could still grow as league commissioner Elias Rangamar said they are still accepting entries.
Representatives of the 17 confirmed teams are requested to attend a meeting this Friday at 5pm at the conference room of the Ada gym. Game schedule, team uniform colors and rosters, entrance fee, and details of the opening ceremony will be discussed at the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Rotary caging has been renamed in honor of Diaz, an avid basketball fan and was one of the people who approached basketball officials to start a league for the youth, according to Rangamar.
The youth league has produced many CNMI national players like Jericho Cruz, who now plays in the Philippine Basketball Association—the first professional cage league in Asia. Other notable Rotary league products were Dan Barcinas, Kobee Mendoza, Kelvin Fitial, Marvin Rabauliman, Pete Iguel, John Sablan, and Jack Lizama among others.
For more information about the Diaz memorial caging, contact Rangamar at 287-6347 or email eli_rang@yahoo.com.
