RBC fields 6 teams in Guam Thanksgiving Hoop Fest

Rollers Basketball Club sent off six of its teams to Guam yesterday where they will take part in the 2011 Take Care Thanksgiving Hoop Fest set at the Tamuning Gymnasium.

RBC’s convoy totals 54 people, which make up its U12, U14A, U14B, U16-18 coed, U18A, and U25 squads.

The tournament features a total of 59 teams spread out among nine divisions.

This year marks RBC’s third appearance in the off-island competition and the event has grown bigger and bigger every year. This year, Guam’s high school teams are also getting involved, albeit from various independent basketball clubs.

The RBC squads are the only off-island participants, but hopefully more Saipan teams will join in next year.

The teams were supposed to fly out last Friday, but were unable to make it due to Fly Guam’s flight suspensions.

Unfortunately, the tournament started back on Thursday, Nov. 17, and the RBC teams have each missed three games already, but they will still get a chance to compete as tournament organizers have pushed back their game schedules as much as possible in an effort to accommodate the club.

RBC’s U12 team is entered in the Turkey Dash division and will be coached by Elias Ranagmar. The team also has a smattering of U10 players.

Its U14A team is entered in the Turkey Run competitive division, while the U14B squad is entered in Turkey Run’s coed recreation class.

The combined U16 and U18 team, coached by RBC’s Ham Hambros, is entered in the Turkey Fly and Shoot coed recreation division.

The U18A team, coached by RBC’s Fred Litulumar, is entered in the Turkey Shoot division and its U25 group is competing in the Turkey Blast competitive class.

“We want to thank our new coaches Elias Rangamar and John Dela Cruz as well as my veteran players and coaches Ham Hambros and Fred Litulumar. Mr. Dela Cruz has been working with our youth U10 team and although he can’t make the trip with us, we appreciate his dedication and I am confident that Mr. Rangamar will do a good job with the boys. All of our coaches do a great job day in and day out and each plays a big role in developing our players,” said RBC head coach Joe Diaz, who coaches the U14 through U25 teams, in an interview yesterday at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport.

Diaz added, “We also want to thank all of the parents for helping make this trip possible. In my opinion, honorable fundraising comes through hard work, not just handouts, and I appreciate that the RBC parents support this belief. We are always trying to come up with creative fundraising ideas and the parents play a big role in making them happen.”

Diaz also acknowledged sponsors Bridge Capital and Jerry Tan and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for helping cover entrance fees, IT&E for helping provide accommodations, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs-Division of Youth Services, Joseph Santos, and the St. Michaels’ Medical Response Team, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Alamo National Rent-A-Car, McDonalds, Micronesian Brokers Inc., Docomo Pacific, Pacific Amusements, Marianas Public Land Trustees, Pacific Islands Club, Hyatt Regency Saipan, and National Office Supply.

“I would also like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and send a special thanks to my wife Verna Babauta because without her on my side I’d just go crazy…and even though I know he doesn’t want me to mention him, I want to thank Rep. Edmund Villagomez for everything he has done for so many youths in the community, not just the RBC,” said Diaz.

Diaz also sent praise to Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro and her staff at the Commonwealth Development Community Center in Garapan, which offers after-school programs daily Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm.

The group is expected to return early Monday morning.

Those interested can visit www.guambasketball.com to follow the tournament results.