DFS donates 3K to FIBA tourney

The withdrawal of three teams from next month’s 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of sponsors as Duty Free Shoppers Galleria Saipan became the latest supporter of the quadrennial event.

In a simple check turnover ceremony Friday at the DFS Galleria office in Garapan, company president Marian Aldan-Pierce reaffirmed the luxury store’s commitment to events that promote health and fitness in the CNMI.

Aldan-Pierce, who was joined in the ceremony by DFS Galleria assistant manager Ben Babauta, added that the Oceania tourney will also help promote the CNMI as a tourist destination even as the Marianas Visitors Authority is remaking the brand as a sports tourism hub.

“This will help put us in the map what with basketball players from Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia coming to the Commonwealth with their supporters, friends, and families,” he said.

For his part, Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael A. White said they are extremely grateful for DFS Galleria’s support.

BANMI will be organizing the 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament.

White said Aldan-Pierce and DFS Galleria have always been faithful supporters of the sports community in the CNMI. He added that the company’s $3,000 donation to the 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament would go along way in defraying the cost of organizing the week-long basketball competition.

The tournament will run from June 20 to 28 and feature the men’s and women’s teams of Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guam, and host CNMI.

Tahiti, Palau, and Fiji originally committed to send their men’s and women’s teams to the event, but pulled out at the last minute, citing financial reasons.

The 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament will be the biggest ever regional basketball competition that the CNMI will be hosting. The last time the CNMI hosted a regional basketball tournament was in 2006 during the Micronesian Games.

The addition of DFS Galleria brings to five the number of sponsors for the tournament. It joins gold sponsors ($5,000) Joeten, IT&E, and Tan Holding. McDonald’s Saipan earlier donated $2,000 for the toruney.

BANMI said additional sponsorships are still available for companies who want to take advantage of associating with this prestigious tournament.

For further information about sponsorship opportunities, contact BANMI president Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or White at 234-6547.