All eyes on CNMI’s bid in World Series qualifier

The Commonwealth sent five teams to the Philippines in its bid to gain tickets to the World Series. Of the five squads, it was the CNMI’s team in the Senior League that had success, going unbeaten in the World Series qualifier in the elimination round and downing Guam in the finals, 8-6. The CNMI Junior and Little League All-Stars finished second in the elimination round, but unfortunately lost in the tiebreak in their respective pools to miss a semis stint. The CNMI Big League All-Stars tied for third with host Philippines, as the two teams had identical 1-3 slates. The CNMI Intermediate All-Stars (50/70), who were represented by Tinian players, were winless in the competition.

The champion CNMI Senior All-Star Team was composed of manager Patrick Tenorio and coaches Anthony Leon Guerrero and Jack Deleon Guerrero and players Craig Aguon, Jessie Brel, Nathan Camacho, Kelvin Deleon Guerrero, Jeffrey Dela Cruz, A.J. Evangelista, Darion Jones, Joseph Lifoifoi, Michael Muna, Franko Nakamura, Jhace Palacios, Jobe Reyes, Melvin Sakiat, and Virolanson Secharmidal. They defeated Indonesia, the Philippines, Guam, India, and New Zealand in the elimination round.

The CNMI Little League All-Stars prevailed against Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Chinese-Taipei for a 3-2 record in Pool A. They bowed to Saudi and Dubai and though the Commonwealth bets missed the playoffs, they finished the tournament on a winning note with an 11-1 rout of Indonesia.

In the Junior League, the CNMI downed Vietnam and the Philippines in the elimination, but lost the tiebreak and the playoff sets to Guam and the Philippines. Both the Philippines and Guam eventually fell short in their semis games against Hong Kong and Chinese-Taipei, while the latter later took the championships. Chinese-Taipei also dominated the Big League division, while the CNMI’s lone win in this event was recorded against the host.

Meanwhile, champions were crowned last week on Saipan with the staging of the finals of the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium and the NMC Foundation Open Golf Tournament at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

Island Manpower claimed the championship in the DL Corp. caging after defeating TBK Auto Mechanics in the finals, 81-78. Jun Tabora was named Finals MVP for hitting clutch baskets, while TBK’s Jake Quitugua was selected regular season MVP.

In the NMC golf tournament, junior golfer Jun Suk Kim prevailed against 46 others. The 13-year-old and 6-handicapper shot net 70 on the west course of the Kagman golf facility off his 39 on the front nine and a 37 on the back. He edged Eddie Peter, who recorded a net 70.2.

In another local competition last week, Shirley’s Coffee Shop and Kanoa Resort remained unbeaten in the Tan Holdings caging, notching their third straight win in the six-team field. Shirley’s won over Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, while Kanoa downed CTSI/D&Q. POI made it to the win column after downing Saipan Tribune/Realty Management Services.