DYS, Typhoon Sports host first basketball tourney

The Division of Youth Services, in collaboration with Typhoon Sports Association and the Community Guidance Center’s Healthy Transitions Office, held an inaugural basketball tournament last week which saw the participation of dozens of teens on Tinian. (Contributed Photo)

The Division of Youth Services, in collaboration with Typhoon Sports Association and the Community Guidance Center’s Healthy Transitions Office, held an inaugural basketball tournament last week which saw the participation of dozens of teens on Tinian.

According to Typhoon Sports Association’s Keith Nabors, the tournament aims to spread awareness on child abuse.

“We have actually been planning this with the team for a while. We were just waiting on the clearance to use the gym. And when that finally went through, we grabbed our partners and put together [this tournament] for the kids to bring awareness to child abuse and neglect and also as apart of Tinian Mental Health Awareness month activities,” he said.

Last Thursday, May 20, and Friday, May 21, Natural, Skyliners, and Shooters topped the very first tournament of its kind on Tinian.

During the tournament, there were two team divisions, U20 and U16. In the U20 division, seven teams, including Skyliners, Natural, Triple Double, Balas, Lasso, Lady Typhoon, and Shooterz, went head-to-head for the championship.

Meanwhile, in the U16 division, four teams faced off for a chance at the inaugural championship including Skyliners, Lasso, Lady Typhoon, and Shooterz. For the ladies division, there were only two teams that participated, Lady Typhoon and Shooterz.

The champion for U20 was Natural, which consisted of players Robert John Reyes II, Sir Dela Cruz, and John Mark Palilio. The team took a 18-16 victory over its opponent and the runner-up was Skyliners.

Skyliners consisted of members Tano King II, Jose Manglona, Kyle Cruz, and Mefi Norech.

The most valuable player award for the division was given to Natural’s Sir Dela Cruz.

For the U16 champions, Skyliners took home the championship via a 16-12 victory over Lasso.

U16 runner-up, Lasso, consisted of members Collin Dela Cruz, Cody Dela Cruz, Ezra Santos, and Raiden Reyes.

Skyliners’ Jose Manglona was named the top scorer for the division. while Tano King II was awarded the MVP award.

The ladies division’s champ was the Shooters which includes Sydney Hinds, Emiliana King, Isa Long, and Cielo Long, after taking a 16-10 win over the Lady Typhoons.

The members of the Lady Typhoons were Colleen Cing, Isa Reyes, Anissa Dela Cruz, and Pritzel Carreon.

Shooters’ Emiliana King was named both the MVP and top scorer of the division.

According to Nabors, the association thanks its sponsors including the Department of Community and Cultural affairs, Division of Youth Services, Community Guidance Center-Healthy Transitions office, Tinian Health Center, Tinian Legislative Delegation, Tinian Mayor’s Office, Pacific Supply, and a number of other individuals who made the event possible.