Rotary, private school V-ball top headlines

Two leagues concluded last week showcasing the talents of youth athletes in the Commonwealth.

After more than three months, the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League finished its season with the CNMI Junior Nationals ruling the 18-and-under youth caging anew.

The Junior Nationals defeated the Southern Sonics in last season’s finals, 98-91, and this year prevailed over the Rollers I Thursday night, 70-52, to successfully defend their title.

The Junior Nationals were also this year’s pennant champion after posting an 8-0 record in the regular season.

Jericho Cruz of the Junior Nationals was named regular season and Finals MVP and led the Rotary All-Star Selection. The elite group was also composed of Cruz’s teammate Marvin Rabauliman, the Sixers’ Joe Ada and Ernest Duenas, Rollers I’s Manny Matagolai, and the Kontenders’ Trevor Ogumoro.

Nine teams competed in the Rotary caging with the San Antonio Sixers placing third and the G-Stars finishing fourth.

Players who saw action in the Rotary caging are high school student-athletes.

Student-athletes continued showing their wares Friday when Grace Christian Academy’s high school team topped the 2008-2009 Coalition of Private Schools Volleyball League.

The Eagles defeated the Mt. Carmel School Knights in straight sets, 25-10, 25-11, to secure their fifth championship in a row.

Seventh Day Adventist pulled of an upset over Marianas Baptist Academy in the battle for third place.

Other high school teams that joined this season’s volleyball league were Saipan International School Blue and Green and Calvary Christian Academy.

Over at the American Memorial Park tennis courts, 62 junior tennis players joined the 2008 Fall Classic Junior Tennis Championships.

Tournament director and NMI coach Jeff Race said this is a record number of entrants in the annual junior tennis event.

The CNMI was also making an attempt to shore up exposure for its athletes, but its bid to take part in the East Asian Games was politely thumbed down.

Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White announced the bad news during NMASA monthly meeting Thursday night.

Longtime CNMI resident Mieko Carey needed no regional tournament to show her triathlon skills.

After winning the 2008 XTERRA Saipan Championships, Mieko earned a slot to this year’s XTERRA World Championships in Maui where she finished third in the women’s 30-34 age group

Carey nearly dropped out of the grueling 0.9-mile swim, 19.1-mile bike, and 6.9-mile run triathlon after suffering from stomach cramps in the two-wheel portion of the Championships.

Meanwhile, other leagues on Saipan continued their competition last week.

In the MISO caging, Kagman High School broke into the win column defeating Mt. Carmel School.

MHS Serves Up! also entered the winners’ circle in the 2008 Miller Lite Four-Person Beach Volleyball League at the last day of the regular season of the annual event, beating Champ-on.

Acme Roofing swept the regular season with a 10-0 record.

In the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League, Century Insurance and Olivos/Reliance Construction stunned separate foes at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

Century surprised pace-setter MIGS, 98-94, while Olivos/Reliance pulled off a 93-85 victory over Diamond Auto Care.

Action in the Budweiser 2008 Inter-Government/Business Softball League at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield also continued last week with five teams tied for the lead with identical 2-0 records.

Tied for the No. 1 spot are Freedom Air, Beach Boys, Legislature, Joeten Motors, and Law & Order.