Monday doubleheader a dud

Whether there were no referees to call the game or a scheduling snafu caused more than four teams to troop to the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, the fact remains that no games of the 2004 Government Basketball League were played Monday.

Instead of actual games with its full complement of referees, table officials, shot clock, and game clock, teams and players just decided to scrimmage because they were already there and were in basketball gear.

Results of the “first game” between Department of Labor and Department of Public Safety I were not available but the score of the “second game” pitting Commonwealth Ports Authority and DPS II was.

The score was 37-34 but for what team? Only the fateful scorekeepers, the spectators that cared enough to stick around, and players themselves know.

Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands president Mike Muna, who plays for CPA, said there was a miscommunication on who were supposed to call the games that evening.
He said only one referee showed up for the 6:30pm curtain raiser and also only one zebra-striped official made an appearance in the scheduled 8pm nightcap.

Another report said that a mix-up in the 2004 Government Basketball League schedule resulted in four teams showing up for the first game. Organizers apparently failed to contact the affected teams of the new schedule, it said.

Despite the confusion on Monday, the government league continues tonight with Department of Community and Cultural Affairs taking on Commonwealth Health Center in the first game. The second game will then have Procurement and Supply squaring off against Saipan Mayor’s Office.

DCCA is running fourth in the team standings with a 5-2 record and desperately needs a win to catch up with DPS I (6-2) CHC is not that far behind with a 4-3 slate.

P&S, meanwhile, has been a disappointment this season despite a stellar cast. They will have a great opportunity though to improve their 2-4 record when they face Mayor’s Office, who are still looking for their elusive first win after losing their first six games of 2004.

The rest of the teams in the government league, with their standings, are as follows: Public School System, 7-0; defending champion Northern Marianas College, 4-4; Tinian, 1-2; DPS II, 1-5; and Office of the Public Auditor, 1-7.

For more information about the 2004 Government Basketball League, please call Division of Sports and Recreation at 664-2503 or 664-2508.