Inter-Hotel caging finals set next week

The 2014 Budweiser Inter-Hotel Basketball League finals between Pacific Islands Club and Shirley’s-Century Hotel will be moved to either Thursday or Friday next week, depending on the availability of both teams and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

League organizer and Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands board member Abner Venus said the game was supposed to be played yesterday but the Ada Gym was being used by the BANMI-organized Youth League, which opened its season last Wednesday.

Games in the youth league are played from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Instead, the battle for third place in the hotel league between Fiesta Resort and Spa and Saipan World Resort was played Thursday night. Results were not available at press time.

Venus said that the one-game finals, instead of PIC enjoying a twice-to-beat edge after going undefeated in the playoffs, will be played on Thursday or Friday. “I will still have to talk to both teams on what’s the most convenient schedule for them.”

PIC and Shirley’s arranged a knockout championship match after dispatching Fiesta and World Resort, respectively, last Tuesday.

PIC, which finished second to Fiesta after the elimination round, waltzed to an 89-55 victory, while Shirley’s relied on the timely baskets of John Jugos, Erick Dela Rosa, and Rommel Usi in the second half to complete a 72-65 upset of Saipan World Resort.

Meanwhile, the inaugural Inter-Hotel All-Star game will be held today after games in the youth league at 7:30pm.

The Northern team is composed of selected players from Fiesta Resort, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Marianas Resort and Spa, and Shirley’s Century Hotel, while chosen members from the Kanoa Resort, Pacific Islands Club, and World Resort will make up the Southern side.

Fiesta’s Elmer Esdrelon, Djay Ong, and Jared Matsutaro; Jas Rosokow and Jayson Gatdula of Marianas Resort; Shirley’s Rommel Usi, Angel Catungal, Erick Dela Rosa, and Josephus Aguilar; and Kiolani Rios, Gino Libuw, and Sahj Hossain of Hyatt are the members of the Bobby Reyes-mentored North team.

Kanoa’s Dindo Pablo, Mico Usi, Matt Duenas, and Fred Litulumar; John Lewis Sr., Jomar Danas, Eugene Manglona, and Dennis Vinas of World Resort; and PIC’s Byrl Alegre, Bart Demapan, James Abuy, and Darwin Barbo are the players of the Noel Verder-coached South squad. (Jon Perez)