Over 80 turn out for RBC Family Fun Tourney

A crowd of more than 80 people congregated at the Garapan Basketball Court for the Rollers Basketball Club’s Family Fun Day Tournament finale Tuesday night.

Five teams participated in the event, which was held in an informal exhibition format.

The tourney was initially held to help prepare RBC players for their upcoming trip to Guam where its U12, U14 A and B, U16 A and B, U18, and U25 divisions will compete in the upcoming 7th Annual Take-Care Thanksgiving Hoop-Fest Youth Basketball Tournament from Nov. 21 through Dec. 7.

In addition, RBC threw a farewell party for members Jon and Mike Cenir, who are moving to Laveen, Arizona in the U.S.

Jon is 17 years old and has been a member of RBC the past six years, while his brother, 12-year old brother Mike, has been with the program for the past two years.

Their mother is transferring to an accounting position in Palau and their father is still looking for work because his current contract was not renewed.

As a result, the boys are moving to live with an uncle, but all in all are looking forward to continuing their basketball careers stateside.

“We are going to miss our family and friends and we really want to thank the Rollers for helping us develop our basketball skills,” said Mike.

“And its not just about basketball, the (RBC) club is where we made a lot of friends and learned more than just basketball. The club has taught us a lot of values and helped groom us into responsible contributors to society. Of course, we would love to keep everyone together, but in the end this is what’s best for me and my brother,” added Jon.

The Cenirs thanked everyone in attendance for their support and dinner was served to the whole crowd just before the last game.

The main event between Docomo and the Parents was predetermined since the other participating squads were made up of developmental U12 players.

Docomo went through the U12 IT&E Rollers, 37-16, in the curtain raiser and then trumped the U12 Ol’Aces, 38-30, en route to the finals.

The Parents knocked off the U12 Micronesian Brokers, Inc., 42-28.

All games were played in a single 25-minute period where each team was granted two time outs.

The Parents assumed control early in the finale pairing, but the youthful Docomo team poured on its game as the time wore down. The old-timers struggled playing defense against the speedy Docomo cagers and elected to chuck full-court passes in the later minutes of the match.

Docomo became wise to the tactic and began to make the Parents pay for their shortcuts and edged out the late rally by the final buzzer.

The Parents had a few good looks for a desperation buzzer-beater, but could not get them to fall.

Docomo’s Renan Lansang led all scorers with 12 points, while the Parents’ Fred Litulumar managed 10 in a hard fought loss.

Litulumar was a force on the defensive end as well and notched a game-high six rebounds to go with four blocks; he won a National Office Supply gift certificate and a free dinner for two at Hyatt Regency Saipan in the awards presentation after the game.

Other awardees included most valuable player William Camacho of Docomo; Lansang for nabbing three steals; and point guard Irvyn Malonzo who dished out six assists.

Camacho won a Hyatt dinner coupon and his teammates took home Pacific Islands Club water park passes.

The RBC is planning to put on a 3-on-3 tournament for its U10, U12, and U14 divisions over Halloween weekend as its last fundraiser before its trip to Guam. More details will be released when received.

Docomo Rollers 42 – Lansang 12, Malonzo 7, Iglesias 5, Ano 4, Factor 4, W. Camacho 2, Devero 2, Feria 2, Floresca 2, Taba 2.

Parents 41 – Litulumar 10, Hambros 8, Valencia 8, Itaas 7, P Camacho 6, Rios 2.