A big week for sports

The sports community had a lot to be thankful for last week, as good news came one after another.

First was the equipment donation of various companies and individuals to the Public School System through the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association.

Ten public elementary schools on Saipan received equipment donation which will be used in the upcoming PSS Interscholastic Soccer League.

The donation package includes two Size 4 balls, one pair of football gloves, one hand football pump/needles, one ball bag, 14 pairs of shin guards, and eight pieces of flat disc. This equipment will ensure the safety of players.

Soon elementary schools on Tinian and Rota will receive the same donation package, as NMIFA wanted the two other islands to be involved, too in the promotion of football in the CNMI in the scholastic level.

Tennis has been a successful program in the Commonwealth, so CNMI netters were disappointed to learn early this year that the sport is not included in the calendar of events in the 2009 South Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

But last week, tennis made it into the list, after bodybuilding pulled out.

CNMI coach and Mini Games veteran Jeff Race said that although no decision has been made yet, still several players are interested to compete in the Cook Islands.

If Northern Mariana Island Tennis Association decides to send players in Rorotonga, the CNMI may not be skipping next year’s Mini Games as earlier announced by the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association.

More good news for tennis, Pacific Oceania Davis Cup team member Michael Leong of the Solomon Islands became the first player in the region to gain professional rankings after competing in various ITF Men’s Pro Circuit events for three months.

Leong is now ranked No. 1338 after competing in Australia, Colombia, Ukraine, Romania, Azerbaijian, Georgia, and Egypt.

Back to local sports events, the island’s beach spikers finally got to show their wares as action in the 2008 Miller Lite 4-person Beach Volleyball League began last week with 11 teams competing for this fall’s championship.

Over on the west course of the Laolao Bay Golf Resort, veteran par-buster Jess Wabol finally won in the Club at the Hyatt Golf Classic, as his Team 2A ruled the 13th edition of the annual event. Joining Wabol on the winning team were Louis Byun and Bae Young Man.

PTI was also the biggest winner in the 2008 Inter-government/Business Basketball League, as it went home with the championship trophy after beating Autonomous in the finals, 80-70.

Kelvin Fitial was adjudged Finals MVP and was very thankful for the award, as this was his first after so many years of playing in various leagues.

No Ka Oi is a many-time winner of softball tournaments here, and although it changed its team name to Mix, the same winning formula was there, leading the squad to a title-defense win the 2008 SaipanCell/Palau Community Association slow-pitch softball tournament.

Mix defeated SaiPal in the finals, 18-4.

In bowling, J.D. Torres ended Raphael Zapanta’s four straight wins in the Bing Energy Drink Prince/Princess of the Lanes Tenpin Bowling Tournament after prevailing in the September roll-off.

Unlike Zapanta, perennial winners Robert Talavera and Yho Villavicencio continued to show their tough form, topping the September roll-off of the Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes Bowling.