Time running out for 25-and-under caging

The 25-and-under Basketball League will have to pull its act together before the end of the current month or they may have to scratch the 2004-2005 season altogether.

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has set a Jan. 28 deadline for the opening of the league during its monthly meeting Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

BANMI president Mike Muna said if organizers of the 25-and-under competition are not able to come up with the six teams required to start the league, then he and the board would have no choice but to pull the plug.

Coordinator Abner Venus reported during the meeting that a lot of teams remain interested in tossing their hat into the competition. However, he said majority of the squads still have trouble putting up the entry fee.

As of this writing, only Hoopholics and Ghasias Brothers have paid the entry fee.

Registration fee for the 25-and-under league is $900 for teams who wish to have uniforms supplied by the league or $600 for teams who already have their own uniforms.

Before the implementation of BANMI’s “No pay, no play” policy, as much as 14 teams, including from Hoopholics and Ghasias Brothers, have shown interest in competing in the 2004-2005 season.

Of the 14 teams, nine remain eager to participate. Joining Hoopholics and Ghasias Brothers are Ol’Aces, Tanapag Warriors, Sunrisers, Garapan Rollers, 69ers, Cyclones, and Tinian.

Venus said league registration is still open and aside from the entry fee, teams are also required to submit necessary documents for age verification and accomplished waiver forms.

Players eligible to see action in the league are those whose 26th birthday does not predate the opening of the season.

For more information about the 25-and-under league, please call BANMI Muna at 664-3582, or league coordinators Venus at 287-5911 and Elias Rangamar at 664-2503.

In 2003, Proa hoisted the championship of the 25-and-under tournament after it waylaid Ghasias Brothers, 106-91, in the title tiff.

Verizon also won that season’s pennant championship and was coached by then CNMI national basketball team coach Rufino Aguon. Its players included Jester Garcia, Dave Palacios, Boaz Etpison, Ambrose Ogumoro, Jeremy Sablan, Ponce Rasa, J.C. Kim, Oscar Ada, and Mel Manibusan.