SPORTS BRIEFS

TWO-MAN BEST BALL TOMORROW

The golden opportunity to have a solid start to the 2006 golf season is at hand, as the Laolao Bay Golf Resort will provide golfers a shot at claiming glory in tomorrow’s Two-man Best Ball Tournament.

A registration fee of $100 will be charged to each player, or $200 per team. Tournament organizer Jess Wabol stressed that the fee does not include green fees, which must be shouldered by the players.

For more information about the tournament, contact Wabol at 288-1129 or Jess Taitano at 236-8888.

PEPSI 5 MAN PRO JAM ON SUNDAY

Active individuals looking for a good time in the CNMI have plenty of opportunities to make the most of their days on Saipan, and this weekend they will get an arrow in their quiver as Hard Corps Paintball unleashes the Pepsi 5 Man Pro Jam this Sunday.

Tournament coordinator Rob Hazlett and the crew at Hard Corps are ushering in the most professional style of fake war this side of the trench by outfitting players with the same gear and obstacles that the pros use on the mainland.

The tournament feature’s the five-man, capture-the-flag format that has stirred the mainland players into a frenzy rather than the methodical hunt and kill in camouflage that takes forever in the woods.

For more information about this weekend’s Pepsi 5 Man Pro Jam or any of the other events at the course, contact the professionals at Hard Corps Paintball by calling 234-0774 or by stopping in to their Gualo Rai shop on Middle Road across the street and next to the Shell stations.

MRA BOARD ELECTION THIS SUNDAY

With another year in the books, the Marianas Racing Association isn’t wasting any time spinning its wheels as the people who bring the high-revving, high-flying fun to the Cowtown Raceway Park are ushering in the new year with a new board of directors.

Six out of the nine seats on the board will be open to the top vote getters during this Sunday’s election at the Marpi facility, as current president Eric Cruz, vice president Joe Flores, and board member Danny Camacho have another year remaining on their term.

According to current MRA secretary Eleanor Cepeda, once the seats are filled, the newly elected members will convene to decide who among them will fill the top leadership roles for 2006. Election is set at 3pm.

For more information about the MRA and all of its events, contact Joe Flores by calling 664-9084/5 or Eleanor Cepeda at either 322-9987/9018.

SAIPAN’S FIRST MARATHON ON JAN. 21

The Marianas Visitors Authority is working together with Northern Marianas Athletics to host the first-ever Saipan Marathon this month.

The plans are to include the marathon in conjunction with the running of the 25th Saipan Half Marathon (formerly the Kintetsu Half Marathon), and 10-km race on Jan. 21.

The cost to tackle the longest race in the history of the CNMI is $35, and the fee for the half marathon will remain the same at $25, but in an effort to curb the rush of last-minute entries, organizers are adding a $10 fee to anyone not registered for either of the three races by Friday, Jan. 20, at 5pm.

For more information about the inaugural Saipan Marathon, the 25th running of the Saipan Half Marathon, or the 10-km course, contact Ed Diaz at MVA by calling 664-3210, or Barnes by calling 235-5853 or via email at kurtproa@yahoo.com.

NYBA TO HOST OPEN LEAGUE ON MARCH

The Northern Youth Basketball Association will host its inaugural league on March of next year.

The league is open to any interested team, and will feature competition in five age divisions-16-and-under, 14-and-under, 12-and-under, 10-and-under, and 8-and-under divisions.

All interested teams must pay a $150 entrance fee, with the first five teams getting free uniforms.

For more information or to register a team, contact Joe Diaz at 322-7061 or George Cruz at 287-1148.

CRIME STOPPERS SET FOR JAN. 28 AND 29

The 4th Annual NMI Crime Stoppers Slow Pitch Softball Tournament would be held on Jan. 28 and 29 at the Oleai Sports Complex.

In the 2006 edition of the tournament, only 10 teams will be permitted to compete for the trophy and $300 prize for first place. The first 10 teams to sign up and pay in full will take part in all of the fun in the sun.

Besides the first place prizes, there will be a trophy and $200 awarded to the first runner up, a trophy and $150 for the second runner up, and trophies for the third and fourth runner ups.

All of the fun of the homerun derby will take place in Sunday afternoon, Jan. 29, as some of Saipan’s sultans of swat will be returning to vie for the $50 prize for the most long balls, but prizes till be awarded to the top three.

Homeruns won’t be the only way to win special prizes during the weekend hit fest as will be raffling off a number of items including a roundtrip ticket to Manila and another ticket to Hong Kong (one winner per ticket) as a part of the Grand Prize Raffle sponsored by Continental Airlines.

Raffle tickets are only $1 apiece, and entrants of the homerun contest automatically receive 20 tickets for their $20 entry fee.

For further information, contact Eric David by calling 664-9022, or Jim Ripple by calling 235-2302.