670 Rollers Basketball Club has new home

670 Rollers Basketball Club founder Joe Diaz, standing fourth from left, poses with some coaches and players of thew club at the Mt. Carmel School Basketball Court.(MARK RABAGO)

Mt. Carmel School Basketball Court is the new home for 670 Rollers Basketball Club.

And to celebrate their relocation, the former Rollers Basketball Association is introducing two new divisions—8-and-under and 10-and-under.

Founder Joe Diaz said, for now, the 8-and-under and 10-and-under age groups are their youngest divisions. He promised though once they purchase 8-foot portable basketball rims, they will open to younger age groups.

“We’re inviting all the age group players to join 670 Rollers. We just want to make the program for basketball the same as soccer. We started the program with just 10-and-under then we started to see the parents bring their 7-year-olds and 6-year-olds. The board is now working to get the portable 8-foot basketball rims so we can accept younger age divisions,” he said. 

As to why 670 Rollers Basketball Club continues to move forward after losing their former home at the Koblerville Basketball Court, Diaz said sports clubs like their’s become doubly important when school is out. 

“We want to make sure the kids will have all the positive activities like sports this summer break.”

670 Rollers Basketball Club has practice pretty much every day of the week. 

The 18-and-under team practices from 5:30pm to 7:30pm every Monday. Tuesday from 5pm to 6:30pm is the turn of the 13-and-under team.

The 10-and-under team practices every Wednesday  from 5pm to 6:30pm, while Thursday from 5pm to 6:30pm belongs to the 13-and under squad and 6:45pm to 8:15pm to the 16-and-under team. 

As for coaches, J.P. Cruz and Diaz handle the 18-and-under team. Diaz himself holds practices for the 16-and-under and then again tag-teams with T.J. Factor for the 13-and-under. Leo Naraja, Cruz, and Diaz are the coaches for the 10-and-under, while 

So far, 670 Rollers Basketball Club has 82 players in its stable—22 in the 18-and-under, 19 in the 16-and-under, 20 in the 13-and-under, 15 in the 10-and-under, and six players in the 8-and-under. Monthly due is only $20.

Lastly, Diaz thanked the following for their continued support of 670 Rollers Basketball Club: House Speaker Edmound Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Roy Ada (R-Saipan) and Rep. Denita K. Yangetmai (D-Saipan). He also thanked Mt. Carmel School business manager John Blanco for allowing them the use of the facilities.

For more information on 670 Rollers Basketball Club, call Diaz at 285-4141 or email him at joediaz41@gmail.com.