Mobil cage league meeting on Tuesday

The 5th Mobil Oil Marianas Invitational Co-ed Basketball League would hold an organizational meeting this coming Tuesday, March 21, at the Aqua Resort Club.

Commissioner Abner Venus said the meeting would be held beginning at 11am at the Costa Terrace Restaurant of the Achugao hotel.

Venus said all teams participating in the 2006 edition of the co-ed cage league are required to send a representative to the organizational meeting. He said the agenda would revolve around the discussion of the league’s ground rules.

He reiterated that only players that work for participating companies and could produce salary stubs or other documents proving their employment are allowed to suit up in the league. To this end, he said participating teams are requested to bring their team rosters during the meeting.

However, he said he is open to dialogue with teams affected by the new rule, which make attendance of representatives of concerned teams all the more important in the meeting Tuesday.

Venus earlier said he is eyeing a late March start for the league. He said uniforms for all nines teams are just about ready and that all he needs to do now is to talk to officials of the Division of Sports and Recreation about the availability of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Mobil cage league commissioner said he is penciling Tuesday and Thursday once again as its play dates. First game would start at 7pm with the second immediately following at around 8:30pm.

The Mobil co-ed basketball league was formed in 2001 to give the giant oil company a venue to fellowship with its client companies. Since its inaugural season, the cagefest has grown in popularity and has attracted a following made up mostly of employees and staff of teams participating in league.

It has even survived the demise of league pioneer team Pacific Development Inc. (the 2003 champion) and that year’s second runner-up Pacific Island Aviation.

Last year, Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach (Now Fiesta Resort and Spa) won the championship against host Mobil, 130-114. Empty-handed in its first three years in the league (it didn’t suit up in the league’s inaugural season), Dai-Ichi benefited with its merging with sister team Tan Holding Corp. and fielded a powerful lineup led by 2005 MVP Elmer Esdrelon and a Japanese import in the person of cage belle Noe Okahira.

The Mobil crown was previously worn by Tan Holdings (2001), Microl (2002), PDI (2003), and Aqua Resort Club (2004).

Aside from Fiesta Resort and Spa, host Mobil, Microl, and Aqua Resort, this year’s competition would also include Hyatt Regency Saipan, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Commonwealth Ports Authority, McDonald’s, newcomer Saipan Ice & Water Co., and guest team, CNMI Women’s National Team under head coach Elias Rangamar.

For more information on the 2006 Mobil Oil Marianas Invitational Co-ed Basketball League, contact Venus at 788-3228.