Shell Marianas meets PTI in 3rd KOD qualifier

Shell Marianas will try to assert its lofty billing when it battles unheralded PTI in one of four first round elimination matches in today’s 3rd qualifying round of the 2008 Budweiser King and Queen of the Diamonds Modified Co-ed Slowpitch Softball Tournament.

Then still known as No Ka Oi, Shell Marianas won the Tournament of Champions for the past three years in Palau in 2005, on Saipan in 2006, and in Guam in 2007.

Palau will host the Tournament of Champions again in November this year.

CNMI teams are competing in a series of qualifying tournaments with Shell Marianas winning the first qualifying round on May 17-18 for the first Final Four slot. It also prevailed in the second qualifying tournament held last Aug-2-3.

Natibu, which placed second in the second qualifying round, had also automatically gained the second Final Four slot.

The third slot is expected to be filed after Sunday’s third qualifying tournament while the fourth slot will be determined via the wildcard tournament format.

The qualifying tournament for the wild card will be on Oct. 4-5 and the Final Four tournament that will determine the right to go to Palau will be on Oct. 10-11.

Game time between Shell Marianas and PTI is set at 1pm at the Capitol Hill Ball Field.

Before that, six other teams are hoping to come up with a good showing and stop Shell Marianas’ juggernaut.

Redemption will face Saipal in the opening game at 9am to be followed by the encounter between Awel and Total Chaos at 10am with the winners of both matches to advance and meet in the second round of the winners’ bracket.

The losing teams will go to the loser’s bracket.

The winner of the Shell Marianas-PTI game will also advance and face the winner of the 11am encounter between On Da Rox and Natibu.

Today’s games (total of eight) will determine the seeding for tomorrow’s pairings when the winners for the top and bottom of the winners’ bracket will face each other to determine the champion for the third round.

In case Shell Marianas and Natibu finish first and second (or vice versa), the third placer will earn the third slot for the Final Four.

After the first two qualifying rounds, the first four slots for the wildcard tournament showed Saipal at No. 1 and Total Chaos at No. 2. On Da Rox is at No. 3 and SUFA is at No. 4.

Spicing up Sunday’s games will be the Home Run Derby scheduled at 12pm with an entry fee of $10.

The first placer will get a beach chair and a case of beer, second a beach chair, and third a shirt and a hat.

Tournament director Joey de la Cruz said there would also be cash prizes to be given out.

The tournament is jointly sponsored by Budweiser, MARPAC, and Continental Micronesia.