670 Sonics off to PH caging

The 670 Sonics players and coaches pose for a photo at the departure area of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport before leaving Saipan for the Philippines yesterday to compete in a youth tournament starting tomorrow. (Contributed Photo)

Players and officials of the 670 Sonics left Saipan yesterday to participate in the 3rd Dreamers International Basketball Tournament that will be held in the Philippines this week.

The 670 Sonics will be fielding two teams in the competition that will run from March 22 to 27 at the Batis Aramin Hotel & Resort in Lucban, Quezon and also feature squads from the host town, Canada, and Guam.

The 670 Sonics will play in the U18 division against Guam’s St. John, George Washington, Tiyan Titans, JFK Islanders, and Okkodo Bulldogs, Canada’s Crossover Sports, and the Philippines’ Lucena Beware, Dream Chaser, PYD, Lucban Team, and The Reader. Certified FIBA Level 1 coach Omar Ajoste will call the shots for the 670 Sonics’ U18 squad, which has Joseph Ejercito, Jude Tengco, Paulo Rafols, Ronel Aque, Sean Apasan Bryan De Guzman, Emmanuel Cobacha, Keeanu Diaz Kenji Abobo, Jeremie Manansala, and John Malasarte as members.

In the U16 division, the 670 Sonics will be pinning their hopes on John Daverex Caruana, Mark Ibanez, Paulo Cadag, Raven Francisco, Royce Ben, Stephen Bartolo, Champ Sabangan, Christian Bravo, Khristian Itaas, Jehpnyll Ejercito, Jerome Diyco, and John Christopher Fabros. Adrian Flores will coach the club’s younger crew.

Joining the 670 Sonics in the U16 division are Canada’s Crossover Sports, Guam’s Okkodo Bulldogs, and the Philippines’ Dream Chaser, Warriors, Lucena Beware, PYD, Lucban Team, ISBB, and Hotshots.

“We will do our best as a ‘TEAM’ to represent and be the CNMI ambassadors. We will show the Philippines that our CNMI basketball players can play ball,” Ajoste said.

The 670 Sonics U18 coach added that their players and the 670 Sonics Basketball Association’s officers prepared for the PH tournament for almost a year since getting an invite from Pinoy Youth Dreamers founder Rhuel “Beaujing” Acot. They joined various leagues and tournaments here to get ready for the tough grind ahead and had regular practices.

The 670 Sonics also held fundraisers to defray the costs of their trip to the Philippines and would like to thank the following for their contributions to the club: Armatech, Brabu Pharmacy, CHCC pproviders and hospital staff, Fishing Tackle, Kanoa Resort, Island Brand Clothing, Latte Built, Marianas Visitors Authority, Pacific Islands Club, Public School System staffs and teachers, Tan Siu Lin Foundation;

Reps. Angel Demapan, BJ Attao, Edwin Propst, Edmund Villagomez, Francisco Aguon, Francisco Dela Cruz, Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero, and Vinson Sablan, Senator Sixto Igisomar, Vice Speaker Janet Maratita, WE>1 Clothing, World Resort, and 670 Sonics alumni. The 670 Sonics would also like to acknowledge the support of the players’ parents.