Agape’s Annual Christmas V-ball Tournament returns

Asian Airline’s Dylan Lee, left, attempts to block a spike from the Gentlemen’s Association setter Allen Luo during their Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament game Tuesday night at the Agape Gymnasium. ªLEIGH GASES)

The Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament returned on Saturday, Dec. 17, just in time for the holiday break, with games held at the Agape Gymnasium.

The men’s division started last Saturday, Dec. 17 from 8am to 6pm and will continue to play for two weeks every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights from 6pm to 9pm, until the championship games on Friday, Dec. 30.

The annual tournament, which is in its fourth edition, was absent for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now back with five women’s teams and eight men’s teams vying for first place in their respective divisions. 

The inaugural ACVT was held in December 2019 and drew a large number of teams for both the men’s and women’s division.

Event coordinator En Yang Pang said that so far, “the tournament is going on great… I feel really thankful and excited about this opportunity to bring back the Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament after two years of COVID because our volleyball community really needed this. We are a very grassroots community, so to be able to organize something for them is an honor.”

“It began as a dream that the CNMI will be able to elevate its level of volleyball,” added Pang. 

Teams in this tournament range from groups of friends to high school volleyball teams who are looking for some volleyball action during the break from school. 

Pang, who has played volleyball since he was 14 years old, added that “maybe we will have even more tournaments for next year, more players, more teams, more participation. And that will be very nice because we can see more people getting interested in volleyball.” 

He then observed that volleyball brings everyone together, as team members bring their friends and family members to watch and cheer them on.

The men’s teams this season are Saikyo, Asian Airlines, The Parumpapapums, Gentlemen’s Association, Bradahood, We 9 Kings, Jingle Boyz, and Naughty List.

The women’s teams are Saluta’s Helpers, V Fans, Veginners, GG’Z, and Volleybakers.

In 2019, Missile-toe won first place in the men’s division and Sweet Digs won the women’s championship.

Iszel Esteves, Kristel Encinares, Alyssa Velasco, Cecile Guevarra, Mia Carreon, Michelle Masga, Tazga Deleon Guerrero, Irish Pagarao, and Julia Espino played for Sweet Digs, while En Yang and En Hong Pang, Tychicus Xu, Jason Wang, Dawei Cai, and Mark Puno played for Missile-toe.

Pang then thanked the tournament’s sponsors Agape Christian School for the facilities, Gold’s Gym Saipan for gym gift certificates to the champions, Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods for their $300 sponsorship, and F&S Corp. for their $600 sponsorship.

The champions will receive $300, while second place will receive $150.

Results of the tournament will be published in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.
For more information, contact En Yang Pang at (670)989-6615, or email fastswimmer4saipan@gmail.com.