IT&E Voyagers, Villanueva reap awards in SBA banquet

 The IT&E Voyagers and team captain Rolly Villanueva came away with the highest honors in the Saipan Billiard Association  yearend 2011 Summer/Fall awards banquet held yesterday’s in Charley’s Cabaret at the Pacific Islands Club.

The IT&E Voyagers of Jonny’s Bar & Grill finished first place in the Agingan division regular season and were also the post season Budweiser Cup champions.The division’s MVP, Villanueva, fronts the team and joins Jojo Talibong, Luis Fajardo, Roman Rodriguez, Boyet Sequioco, RJ Mascaranas, Jao Bernardo, and Marc Brian Nelvis on the winning squad. Villanueva notched 13 wins in the season to take the MVP plum.

IT&E Incredibles of Utopia Sports Bar finished the season second place, ahead of third ranked Jonny’s Home Boyz Five,

In the Obyan division, Wild Bill’s Bar & Grill’s Shark Attack finished first place in the regular season, while fifth-ranked Pirata of D’Pirates Bar claimed the coveted Obyan Budweiser Cup championship. Crazy 8 and Team SCS, both of Jonny’s, placed second and third place in the regular season.

Shark Attack members include team captain Patrick Taitano, Ben Norita, Nojng Detdon, Vince Mareham, Nolas Kaliga, Jerry Ayuyu, Jack Thornsaket, and Bill Limes. Taitano swept all his 14 matches to notch the MVP trophy in the Obyan field.

The Budweiser Cup champion Pirata had team captain Randy Sablan, Joey Agulto, Dave Maratita, James Reyes, and Richard Santos as members.

Meanwhile, other individual awardees include Crazy 8’s Ray Pinangay who ran the rack an Obyan league-best four times and Docomo Hustlers’s Senen Pangelinan and IT&E Voyagers Villanueva, who accomplished the same feat five times apiece in the Agingan division.

Pinangay’s teammate, Zaldy Quebral, and Pirata’s Maratita were recognized for sinking the 8-Ball on the Break once apiece during the season and two-timer Joseph Achas of X-Tream.

Most improved player honors went to Obyan’s Mike and Mei Rengiil of the 19th Hole Bar Titans for each tallying 10 assists during the season, while the 14 assists by IT&E Voyagers’ Nelvis took the prize in the Agingan class. Sportsmanship team awards were issued to Agingan’s X-Tream of VFW Post 3457 and Obyan’s Team SCS. SBA officials also handed a plaque of appreciation to 19th Hole Bar.

League organizers want to thank sponsors MARPAC, Saipan Computer Services, IT&E, Docomo Pacific NTT, Sand’s Café Bar, Joe’s Steakhouse, Jonny’s, D’Pirates, Wild Bill’s, Utopia, and VFW for all of their support.

In related news, the deadline to sign up for the upcoming 2012 Winter/Spring season is Jan. 24. Membership fees are also due on Jan. 24. There are new locations for interested teams this year. These include Poseidon across American Memorial Park, Islander Bar behind the Big Dipper, Bammy’s in the Gold Beach Hotel and Water Front, formerly known as Buddies’ Bar.