Inaugural NYBA Tournament starts in style

The inaugural Northern Youth Basketball Association had a grand opening like no other Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court with everything from a parade of all 16 teams, a very entertaining marching drill, to inspirational messages highlighting the kick-off.

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela graced the opening ceremony and said he was quite honored for being invited to speak to the youth.

“My office is more than pleased to be one of the major sponsors of this tournament. My office always supports youth activities and I would like to congratulate and thank the board of directors, volunteers, coaches, players, and their parents that have worked hard to make this tournament off and running,” he said.

Tudela, who won a second term to govern Saipan in the last Nov. 5 polls, also reminded players in attendance that sports is not always all about winning.

“I hope when you play don’t always think about winning. As long as you participate in the program, you are already a winner. Don’t forget that you participate because you want to show off your skills and also want to improve on it,” he said.

NYBA president Joe Diaz also shared where the idea to form the NYBA came from. He said it was a few months ago when he was reading the Pacific Daily News when he came to read an article about Guam’s Southern Youth Basketball Association.

“I said to myself, ‘If Guam can do it, why not Saipan?’ and I immediately made a call to George [Cruz, Matansa Sparks coach] and that’s when we came up with the idea of forming the NYBA for the island’s youth,” he said.

Cruz, for his part, saluted the contributions and sacrifices made by the parents of the players, saying that they are an integral and invaluable part of the youth basketball program.

“Us coaches, we won’t be here and your kids won’t be here and playing basketball if it weren’t for you. We ask you to please continue supporting them through the sport of basketball as we the coaches help each other develop our youth, your kids—your sons and your daughters—to become better citizens of the CNMI,” he said.

Former national player and Capitol Hill Stars coach Ambrose Ogumoro Jr. also shared how basketball has changed his life. He said if not for the sport, he wouldn’t have learned the value of teamwork and would still be the 265-lb. defensive lineman he was when he played football in California.

Reigning Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League regular season MVP and Garapan Rollers I player Pete Iguel also revealed that before he took up the sport, he was sort of a troublemaker and even threw rocks on cars passing by his old neighborhood.

The NYBA didn’t pull any punches in its opening night as more than 200 players from the tournament’s three divisions participated in a mammoth team parade. It was followed by presentation of colors by the Kagman High School JROTC and the singing of the U.S. and CNMI national anthems rendered beautifully by Samantha Decena.

The KHS JROTC later performed a 15-minute marching drill that so enthralled the players and the rest of the crowd that shouts of “A-Y-U-Y-U” echoed around the basketball court.

Mayor Tudela officially opened the weeklong competition by doing the honors in a ceremonial shot. He, however, failed to hit the bottom of the net despite attempting thrice.

Games later in the evening, meanwhile, saw Ogumoro’s Capitol Hill Stars nipping Matansa Sparks 25-23 in Division I, while Bwii Bwiis routed Garapan Rollers 77-59 in Division III.

First Game
Capitol Hill Stars 25 – Abraham 10, Dillay 8, Rangamar 2, Salas 2, F. Santos 2, D. Santos 1.
Matansa Sparks 23 – Sablan 8, Jones 4, Catsro 3, Pangelinan 3, Gapo 2, Reyes 2, Mafnas 1.
Scoring by halves: 14-8, 25-23.

Second Game
Bwii Bwiis 77 – Igisomar 25, Fitial 24, Litulimar 12, Pua 2, Odoshi 4, Moteisou 4, M. Somol 2, D. Somol 2.
Garapan Rollers III 59 – Sablan 13, Avila 12, Espeleta 9, Villanueva 6, Camacho 6, Joel 5, Kaipat 4.
Scoring by halves: 33-32, 77-59.