Pro beach volleyball players hit Saipan

Saipan students had their best week as they got a chance to meet professional beach volleyball players and cheer for their respective home teams during the 2009 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Basketball League.

Beijing Olympics gold medalist Phil Dalhausser led two other U.S. pros in visiting Saipan International, Ladera International School, and Saipan Community School as part of the group’s promotion of the 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival.

Joining Dalhausser in meeting students from three schools were Jennifer Snyder and Paul Baxter. The U.S. pros entertained questions from students, which usually asked about Dalhausser’s Olympics experience.

Dalhausser teamed up with Todd Rogers in lifting the U.S. team to a gold-medal win against Brazil in last year’s Beijing Olympics.

The three U.S. pros were first to arrive on Saipan for the Marianas Cup. They were later joined by fellow pros from Japan and Korea, and another returnee—Jenelle Koester.

These pros also conducted clinics for kids and played in exhibition games at the Pacific Islands Club sand court.

Over at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, the private school league held its playoff round for the boys and girls junior varsity division.

Grace Christian Academy defeated Mt. Carmel in the finals, 22-14, to take the girls junior varsity crown.

Saipan International School won its first championship in the boys’ junior varsity after whipping the MCS Knights, 49-33.

The GCA Lady Eagles cruised to an 32-11 semis win over Seventh Day Adventist, while the Lady Knights downed Saipan Community School, 32-18, to set a title duel with GCA.

In the boys’ semifinals, SIS prevailed over SDA via forfeit, while Mt. Carmel dethroned 2008 champion GCA with a 55-54 win.

In other news in basketball, the CNMI Nationals remained top of the standings in the 2008-2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League following a 99-77 rout of Diamond Auto Care.

The win was the Nationals’ seventh in eight games, putting them a victory ahead of second placer IT&E (6-3).

In the 2009 Navy Hill Friendship Basketball League at the Garapan Basketball Court, MBI, Inchcape and Athlete’s Foot secured playoffs slots after gaining separates wins.

In golf, Tars Olopai took the RGA February Ace after his net 66 went unbeaten during the club’s tournament at Marianas Country Club.

In the Budweiser 2009 Saipan Major League, the Tanapag Falcons and Ford Rangers finally made it into the win column, but Rock Steady remained on top of the leaderboard.

The Falcons notched a 5-2 victory over the Young Guns Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Young Guns dropped to a 0-2 start after a 5-10 loss to Rock Steady, which improved to a 2-0 record.

Benwachi Taisacan made the first homerun of the season to lead the Ford Rangers to a 15-6 blowout of Korean Phoenix. The Rangers bowed to Rock Steady in their first game, 5-6.

Still in baseball, the San Roque D’9ers prevailed in a low-scoring game over the Ol’Aces, 2-1, in the Big League Division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Baseball.

The win was the D’9ers second in three starts, while the loss was the Ol’Aces first in two games.

The D’9ers opened their title campaign on a winning note with an 8-7 triumph over Team Aztecs last Feb. 21, but lost to defending champion Tanapag Falcons, 1-4, last Feb. 26.

In another Big League game, the Aztecs rallied past the Hustlers, 8-5.