BANMI, NMASA boards meet this week

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association will hold important meetings this week.

According to BANMI president Mike Muna, board members are urged to meet at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room today at 5:30pm to discuss the start of the upcoming 35-and-over Masters Basketball League and 2005 Budweiser Cup.

Muna urged players interested in competing in the Masters league to start forming teams as the league may get underway soon.

He said at least six teams are needed for the league to get going, however, he indicated that “the more teams competing, the better.”

Masters league games are expected to be played at the Ada Gym.

Muna, however, said tip off of the Masters league and Bud Cup would not be expected until the conclusion of the ongoing Island Wide Volleyball League.

“When that’s [volleyball] done, that should open space for the leagues,” Muna said during an interview yesterday. “[Division of Sports and Recreation] director Tony Rogolifoi and Elias [Rangamar] are going to be there, so we’re going to check when the volleyball would be completed.”

BANMI recently kicked off its 25-and-under cage fest, which just completed its second week of competition. Eight teams are currently battling for supremacy.

Meanwhile, NMASA will hold its monthly meeting this Thursday at 6:30pm at the Ada Gym conference room.

According to Rogolifoi, topics to be discussed focus mainly on the upcoming 2005 South Pacific Mini Games in Palau this summer.

He said a completed list of roster of players and coaches are required from each sport during the meeting.

Rogolifoi also said that each player or coach that is part of the CNMI delegation to the Games should have $600 in their name by the start of the meeting.

Collection of funds, according to Rogolifoi, are done quarterly.

Rogolifoi, a member of the CNMI National Baseball Team coaching staff, also expressed optimism that the squad will meet all the financial requirements, and should be ready by the time the Games come around.

Members of the team are Jester Garcia, Matt Kintol, Jonathan Jones, Joe Guerrero, Jonathan Camacho, J.P. Flores, Byron Kaipat, Robert Bansil, Pat Alepuyo, Craig Sanchez, Greg F. Camacho, Tony Celis, Peter Tomokane, Joey Dela Cruz, A.J. Allen, Tyrone Omar, Ben Jones, Jr., Jerome Delos Santos, Dwight Quitano, and Clifton Silil.

The CNMI delegation to the Mini Games is also made up of men and women’s softball, athletics, canoeing, swimming, lawn tennis, table tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, wrestling, and weightlifting.