Week kind to defending champs

Repeat winners took last week’s center stage.

Leading the list was Shell Marianas, who ruled the Budweiser King of the Diamonds Tournament for the fourth straight time.

The team topped the first three editions of the annual tournament under the sponsorship of No Ka Oi. But a change in the team’s name did not prevent Shell Marianas from reasserting its might in the KOD.

Shell Marianas won over SaiPal in the finals, 10-2, to earn the right to represent CNMI in a tournament on Palau against Guam and the host.

Saipan Bowling Association’s monthly tournaments also had repeat winners with Raphael Zapanta securing his seventh Bing Prince of the Lanes monthly plum after topping last week’s October roll-off.

Last week’s winner in the Budweiser October King of the Lanes tournament was Simon Manacop’s fourth having won in the March, June, and September editions of the monthly tournament.

In the Queen of the Lanes event, Emi William recorded her second monthly win after the October roll-off triumph. She ruled the same event in January.

Whispering Palms joined last week’s winners circle after prevailing against Grace Christian Academy in the finals of the junior varsity division of the 2008 Coalition of Private Schools Volleyball League.

The title was Whispering Palms second after beating Saipan Community School in the 2006 finals. In 2007, the Terns lost to the Seventh Day Adventist.

The Ghasias Brothers were also repeat winners in the past editions of the World Organized Rocball Community League and after several years of absence they are determined to return to the No. 1 spot.

The Ghasias Brothers pulled off an upset over defending champion Evenflow, 76-71, at the start of the 2008-2009 World Organized Rocball Community League last week at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Like the Ghasias Brothers, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs is a force to reckon with in the government softball.

Last week, the two-time reigning champion started its title defense bid with a 15-2 domination of Public School System.

Over at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tennis courts, more than 30 up-and-coming junior players participated in the Inaugural 2008 Jehovah-Jireh Tennis Tournament.

Organized by Fiesta tennis instructor Peter Loyola, the tournament had Carl Dela Cruz, Kevin Rhee, and Tiffany Madlangbayan standing out among 28 other participants winning the Levels 3, 2, and 1 divisions.

Other leagues continued their games last week with the Rotary caging entering its Final Four phase.

The CNMI Junior Nationals secured the first semis ticket after ousting the Southern Sonics, 53-42, Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The San Antonio Sixers joined the Junior Nationals in the semifinals after outclassing
the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 63-56, on the same day.

The third semis ticket belonged to the Rollers I, which thwarted the Kagman Suns, 65-53, Wednesday night, while the G-Stars caught the last bus en route to the semifinals after slipping past the Kontenders, 63-62, Thursday night.

In other basketball league, the undefeated MIGS (4-0), provided basketball enthusiasts the best show so far in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League after pulling off a 125-122 overtime win over C&R Distributor/NRG Thursday night.

Also showing its best form in the Pacific Islands Club sand court for the 208 Miller Lite Four-Person Beach Volleyball Fall League is Acme Roofing, which remained unbeaten in eight games last week.

Acme Roofing are now in the playoffs, together with Enyophace (7-1), MHS Peers (6-2), Karakuchi (6-3), Kimoichi (5-3), Thai One On (5-4), Off Twice (4-5), and MHS Oakies (4-4).