Another interesting week in the books

Another interesting week came to a close as the local sports scene was booming with action and big news.

Among the top headlines include the arrival of NBA veteran David Wood as well as Dick Dankworth, Mike Brown, and Dan Dix of University of Nations. The crew conducted a coaches clinic that drew over 30 participants. Next week, they will conduct a youth basketball clinic.

Mix martial arts fans were also given a big treat as Trench Warz III: Commotion hit with 17 no-holds barred fights. Slade “Rage” Adelbai was able to win the main event against last-minute fighter Charleston Aiken while Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial defeated Luka Tapuaialupe in the semi main event. The event drew over 600 screaming fans and was held at the Trench Tech Purebred Saipan Gym in Garapan.

Meanwhile, Robert Talavera and Hea Jin Su were phenomenal and took top honors in the 24th Annual May Masters Bowling Tournament at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Junior netters Ji Hoon Heo and Vivian Lee, who will both be competing in the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games, were also in top form, with Heo beating Jeff Race to win the men’s open singles title and Heo defeating Amanda Weindl to win the women’s open singles title in the 25th Annual DFS Micronesia Tennis Championships at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

Ezekiel cagers also had their spot on center stage as the team won the championship of the Filipino Community Church Inaugural Inter-Color Basketball League, beating Jeremiah 69-66 in the finals. Ezekiel center Marlon De Dios was most valuable player while John Rhei of Joshua was honored as three-point king.

Fundraising for the Micro Games also continued with the Micro Games Organizing Committee hosting a cross country run and golf tournament last Saturday at the LaoLao Bay Golf Resort. The events were part of the 4th Annual Family Fun Day at the golf resort. Nate Mateo took top honors in the run that featured 59 runners, while Sasaki Oliver survived a four-man playoff to win the golf tournament.

Action in the 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League also saw its regular season come to a close, with the Wells Fargo CNMI Nationals, Ol’Aces-Budweiser, and Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Bud Light posting victories.

Also, sprinters Tyrone Omar and Jacque Wonenberg, thrower Lei Rangamar, and swimmer Kensuke Kimura were named athletes of the month for May.