Mobil glad to continue co-ed caging

Mobil Oil Marianas official Lucas Salii reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting the 6th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League during an organizational meeting Tuesday at the Aqua Resort Club.

Salii said he will try to build on the success of past organizers of the league—Tom Anitok and Jojo Dadivas—with the help of league chairman Abner Venus.

“I’m here to continue to support the co-ed league. It’s the only one of its kind in the region. I would try my best to carry on what Tom started and what Jojo has nurtured the past years,” he said.

Salii also thanked all eight participating teams who also happen to be some of Mobil’s best customers in the Northern Marianas. He said without them the Mobil league wouldn’t be possible.

“We have been doing this for the past five years and we wish to continue this tight relationship with you. As long as your companies remain interested and participate in the Mobil league, we will continue to run it,” he said.

Venus, for his part, said in behalf of all eight teams he would like to extend his gratitude to Mobil and to Salii for supporting the Mobil league.

The body shop and service manager of Microl-Toyota said in spite of the hard economic times, Mobil has continued to bankroll the league, which is the only one in the Commonwealth that the organizer shoulders all the expenses, from uniforms, referees fees, venue rental, and other associated costs.

“We should all be thankful that Mobil has not wavered in its support of the co-ed caging. It’s not only a place where Mobil could show its appreciation to its client companies, but also for us to fellowship and get to know each other better,” he said.

Venus also said that the Mobil league has drawn interest from FIBA Oceania and he has been asked by BANMI vice president Elias Rangamar to provide tapes of games so the regional basketball federation could see for themselves what makes the local co-ed league tick.

Aside from Salii and Venus, also present during Tuesday’s organizational meeting were Mobil Oil Marianas official Lucas Salii, Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s George Poquiz, McDonald’s Gil Gapor, Saipan Ice & Water Co.’s Benjie Abadilla, Aqua Resort Club’s Manny Barcial, Mobil’s Marvin Deocares, Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Tom Alegre, and Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Chris Calub.

The Mobil co-ed basketball league was formed in 2001 to give the giant oil company a venue to fellowship with its client companies. Since its inaugural season, the cagefest has grown in popularity and has attracted a following made up mostly of employees and staff of teams participating in league.

It has even survived the demise of league pioneer and 2003 champion Pacific Development Inc. and that year’s second runner-up Pacific Island Aviation.

Last year, Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach (Now Fiesta Resort and Spa) won the championship against host Mobil, 130-114. Empty-handed in its first three years in the league (it didn’t suit up in the league’s inaugural season), Dai-Ichi benefited with its merging with sister team Tan Holding Corp. and fielded a powerful lineup led by 2005 MVP Elmer Esdrelon and a Japanese import in the person of cage belle Noe Okahira.

The Mobil crown was previously worn by Tan Holdings (2001), Microl (2002), PDI (2003), and Aqua Resort Club (2004).

For more information on the 2006 Mobil Oil Marianas Invitational Co-ed Basketball League, contact Venus at 888-3228.