Thursday meeting for PTI govt caging

PTI Inter-government Basketball League coordinator Joey Dela Cruz is reminding representatives of the 13 participating teams to show up for tomorrow’s meeting at 6pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

Half of the $500 entrance fee, or $250, is also due in the tete-a-tete where team representatives will also be informed of other details about the league. The remaining amount must be paid on or before the teams’ third game. Checks can be made payable to the Division of Sports and Recreation.

Early this week, PTI became the major sponsor of the 2008 season of the annual government basketball league. Present during the signing were coordinators Joey Dela Cruz and co-coordinator Mario Sablan. PTI marketing associate Brad E. Ruszala was on hand for the sponsoring company and discussed the details of PTI’s sponsorhip.

PTI regularly supports youth and adult teams in a vast number of sporting events as part of its continuing commitment to the people of the CNMI.

Thirteen teams have already showed interest in joining the 2008 season of the Inter-Government Basketball League, which opens on May 12, Monday, 6pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 13-team field is led by defending champion Office of the Public Auditor and last year’s runner-up Northern Marianas College-Proa. The other 11 squads are Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Commonwealth Health Center, Department of Corrections, Airport Rescue Fire Fighters, Tinian, Aguaguat, Ports Police, Legislature, Fire, Department of Public Works/Procurement and Supply, and Saipan Mayor’s Office.

The tournament will follow a single round-robin format with the Top 8 teams advancing to the double-elimination round playoffs. Games will be played every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the first and second games scheduled at 6:30pm and 8pm.

Last year, OPA defeated NMC-Proa, 2-1, in their three-game series.

Proa opened the race-to-two title match with an 82-79 win in Game 1 but OPA bounced back with a 76-63 victory to force a rubber.

OPA then did not let the opportunity slip away from their hands and scored a 99-82 rout of NMC Proa in Game 3 to wrap up the series.

For more information about the government basketball league, call Dela Cruz at 664-2503.