King of the Diamonds returns for second round

The softball field at Dandan will soon be the busiest diamond on Saipan as several teams will battle each other for the championship of the 2005 King of the Diamonds.

Organizers Jojo Camacho and Melvin Tenorio of main sponsor MARPAC disclosed during an interview yesterday that the two-day tournament will be held on July 16 and 17, and may possibly be extended to the following weekend depending on the number of teams participating.

The King of the Diamonds features three rounds of tournament play, with the upcoming tourney serving as the second round. The first round saw No Ka Oi beat out eight other teams a couple of months ago. The third round is expected to be held sometime in mid-October.

Camacho and Tenorio said all teams are given until July 15 to register and pay the required $100 entrance fee. All players must be at least 18 years of age and there is no limit to the number of players in a roster.

All team members will receive T-shirts courtesy of MARPAC. The top two winners of the second round will also receive baseball bags and trophies.

Although the prizes may already be catching the attention of many, what will catch their eyes is the 15-man slot guaranteed to the grand champion, who will compete in the King of the Diamonds Grand Finale in Palau on Nov. 10 to 14. The competition will feature Saipan’s top guns, as well as the champions from Palau and Guam slugging it out for supremacy.

All teams must abide by the rules set in place by the organizers. All rules are standard to that of the rules being used in the Palau and Guam King of the Diamonds tourneys.

All teams must also have a representative present at a rules meeting set for July 13 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room. The meeting will be called to order at 5:30pm.

Camacho and Tenorio said all accommodations—airfare, meals, and living accomodations—would be provided by MARPAC and co-sponsor Continental Micronesia.

The MARPAC representatives also reiterated that the tournament features a points system, that gives all participating teams in the rounds a good chance at claiming the grand champion title.

The team with the most points after the three rounds will earn the trip and trophies, as well as a year’s worth of bragging rights.

“With this points system in place, its anybody’s game,” Tenorio said.

Camacho added that the King of the Diamonds would be an annual event.

Camacho and Tenorio also expressed their appreciation to the Belau Amateur Softball Association for its assistance in securing officials and a playing field for the tournament.

Interested teams can register at MARPAC in Gualo Rai. For more information, contact Newman Techur at 234-0173 and Camacho and Tenorio at MARPAC.