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CNMI athletes test grit in off-island tourneys
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- CNMI players pose for a photo while waiting for the start of the opening ceremony in the 2014 Asia Pacific Middle East Regional Tournament being held in the Philippines. (Contributed Photo)
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- The CNMI’s Zarinae Sapong, left, poses with other flag bearers of Micronesian countries during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Oceania Area Championships last week in Cook Islands. (Contributed Photo)
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- A Saipan Tribune/RMS defender tries to tap the ball away from a Shirley’s Coffee Shop player during their game in the Tan Holdings caging last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- Two youth runners rush to the finish line of last week’s 21st Annual Tom Picarro Memorial Fun Run. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- The Tan Holdings FC players and officials pose for a photo at the departure area of the Saipan International Airport before leaving for Guam to compete in the 2014 Marianas U18 Invitational Tournament. (Contributed Photo)
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- Ali’i’s Raymond Velasco, left, challenges the short jumper of I Love Saipan’s White Capalad during the third quarter of their title game in the DLX/IT&E caging last week at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
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- San Antonio’s Erick Dela Rosa goes up for a shot against two TBK Mechanics defenders during their semis game in the DL Corp. caging last Thursday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
In athletics, the CNMI’s Zarinae Sapong, Brandon Phillip, and Beo Ngirchongor joined the 2014 Oceania Area Championships in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Phillip raced in both the junior men’s 100m and senior 100m runs and survived the qualifying heat of the first, while Sapong and Ngirchongor competed in the junior 400m and senior 400m races, respectively.
In football, Tan Holdings FC participated in the 2014 Marianas U18 Invitational Tournament in Guam. The Jersh Angeles-coached squad drew the Islands and Strykers in their first two games on the artificial turf of the Guam Football Association training facility before losing to league champion Wings in their last match.
Tan Holdings FC finished third in the competition, while its goalkeeper Joshua Galarion brought home the Golden Glove award. Sean Perez nearly gave the visiting team its second individual plum when he placed second in the Golden Boot award battle after scoring four goals against the five of the winner from Wings.
In Little League, four CNMI teams are now in the Philippines for the 2014 Asia Pacific Middle East Regional Tournament. The CNMI Little League All-Stars first left Saipan, while their counterparts in the Junior, Senior, and Big League divisions followed suit. Games in the regional event started over the weekend and results were unavailable at press time.
Back on Saipan, Ali’i ruled the DLX/IT&E caging after beating I Love Saipan in the finals, 74-65. Kobee Mendoza and Raymond Velasco towed Ali’ to the title win and were named regular season and Finals MVP, respectively.
Still in basketball, the DL Corp. caging was down to two teams with Island Manpower and TBK Mechanics surviving the playoffs. Island Manpower downed Shocker Nation in the first semis match last Thursday, while TBK Mechanics ousted the then undefeated San Antonio in the second match at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.
The Gillette gym is also the venue for the Tan Holdings caging and after the second week of action, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, and Kanoa Resort remained unscathed.
Meanwhile, the 21st Annual Tom Picarro Memorial Fun Run was held last week, too with Jesse James and Lorie Hutchison emerging as the top male and female finisher sin the 7K race. In the 3K, Pacific Islands Club’s Toshi Satake was the fastest in the men’s division, while 10-year-old Conatsu Kaga reigned supreme in the women’s category.
