No weekend starts for govt and 25-and-under leagues

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has postponed the weekend kick off dates for the 2004 Inter-Government Men’s Basketball League and 25-and-under Basketball League.

According to league coordinator Joey Dela Cruz, the opening for the government league has been moved from this Friday to Monday, Oct. 25, to give teams more time to prepare and practice.

He also said that the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium is also busy hosting the championship of the Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League this Friday necessitating the change in schedule

The Monday opening will have Department of Community and Cultural Affairs taking on Commonwealth Ports Authority in the 6pm first game. The second game, scheduled at 7:30pm, then pits Department of Public Safety 1 against Public School System.

Dela Cruz said so far 10 teams have signed up for the competition. Aside from the four seeing action on opening day, the other six teams are DPS II, Commonwealth Health Center, Division of Labor, Saipan Mayor’s Office, Office of the Public Auditor and Procurement and Supply.

He also said that four teams are still undecided whether to join or not. They are Tinian, Historic Preservation Office, Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and defending champion Northern Marianas College.

Dela Cruz said the four teams have until Thursday to pay the $375 entrance fee or they will not be allowed to field a team this season.

Games of the government league are played Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. For more information about the 2004 Inter-Government Men’s Basketball League, contact Dela Cruz by calling 664-2503 or 664-2508.

While the government league will surely be starting its season next week, there is no such certainly for the BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League.

BANMI official Elias Rangamar said the scheduled Saturday Oct. 23 kick-off date has been scrapped because only one team so far has paid the $600 entrance fee.

Rangamar said BANMI decided during its recent monthly meeting that they would no longer start leagues unless all participating teams have made full payment of the entry fees.

Deadline for submission of the entry fee, as well as rosters and players’ identification was last Oct. 15.

Rangamar said the 25-and-under Basketball League would hold an emergency meeting this Friday, Oct. 22, 12pm at the Ada Gym conference room.

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