Pacific Games highlights top headlines

The Pacific Games dominated last week’s headlines with 22 island-nations, including the CNMI, competing in the regional event New Caledonia is hosting.

The quadrennial competition opened with the traditional parade of nations with over 4,000 athletes and officials joining the opening ceremony at the Stade Numa Daly in Noumea.

Then at the contest proper, the CNMI Baseball Team started the Commonwealth’s Pacific Games bid and won its debut and early rematch against defending gold medalist Palau, 1-0. The CNMI sluggers next faced New Caledonia and lost the close match, 2-3. Tony Rogolifoi’s wards had another neck-and-neck game against rival Guam and bowed anew, 5-6. The Commonwealth then snapped its two-game losing skid with a win over American Samoa, 9-4.

The CNMI also has entries in the beach volleyball, golf, and athletics. For golf, the Commonwealth is left with three players—Jeff Taylor, Adam Hardwicke, and Tony Satur—after Jess Wabol withdrew due to a back injury. Taylor shot a pair of 76 in the first two rounds for 10th place, while Hardwicke and Satur struggled and were at the bottom half of the 43-golfer field.

Beach volleyball’s Tyce Mister and Chris Nelson did not see action in the opening week and will have their games this week. Athletics’ Rachel Abrams, Douglas Dillay, and Trevor Ogumoro will also start competing this week.

In other off-island event, Mieko Carey won in the 2011 XTERRA Japan for her third straight triumph in Marunuma.

In local events, the UFO caging continued with its competition in three divisions at the TSL Sports Complex. In the open division, Namfrel/Proa remained undefeated after four games to lead the eight-team league. In the masters category, Cabalen/Wings Travel is also unbeaten in three matches to stay on top, while MDX and the Jets shared the youth league lead with identical 2-1 cards.

Still in basketball, the Blue Haus caging at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court began its playoff round.

In futsal, Wild Bill’s and Shirley’s A widened their lead in the men’s and women’s divisions after posting separate wins last week.

Still in football, the CNMI had visitors last week. Former Japan National Team member and pro striker Atsuhiro Miura ad five others were on Saipan for two days and conducted a brief clinic for youth players.