Interscholastic leagues shift to tourney format

Saipan Southern High School’s Frankie Satur takes a shot against Kagman High School defenders during the opening of the IT&E Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last month at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.
(ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Pressed for time because of the postponements brought about by the COVID-19 spread in the community, the Public School System Athletic Programs has opted to cancel ongoing interscholastic leagues in volleyball, basketball, and badminton and replaced them with tournaments.

“With the COVID-19 surge occurring throughout the islands, the PSS Athletic Programs elected to err on the side of safety in deciding to postpone play. Our schools, students, staff, teams, partner federations, and community has been stretched to the limit with rampant infections. As we work to resume normalcy (whatever that is?), we also do not want to be part of the spread. Arriving at the decision to postpone play was a difficult one, but again, the safety of the students, coaches, and community is our top priority,” said PSS athletics program director Nick Gross.

The shift to tournament play starts this Saturday, Feb. 19, with the Co-ed Elementary Volleyball Championships at the ChaCha Oceanview Middle School from 8am to 12pm.

Over at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai, the TakeCare Interscholastic Badminton League will resume also this Saturday with co-ed middle schoolers seeing action from 8am to 11am and co-ed high schoolers taking to the floor from 1pm to 4pm.

The Girls Middle School Volleyball Championships will be held at the Koblerville Gymnasium on Feb. 25 and 26, while the Boys Middle School Volleyball Championships will play on the same venue on March 11 and 12.

Last but not the least, the IT&E Interscholastic Girls and Boys High School Basketball Championships will be held at the Marianas High School Gymnasium from March 3 to 5.

“We’re excited to move forward with tournament play in the middle school volleyball division at the Koblerville Gymnasium managed by the NMI Rollers. The facility is open air and we will have additional mitigation measures in place to do our part to stay COVID-free. For example, we’re procuring canopies and picnic tables for the parents and supporters that will be placed around the building so that only athletes, coaches, and officials will be allowed onto the playing area inside the gym,” said Gross.

Like in previous years, the PSS Athletic Programs has invited Tinian and Rota schools to partake of the scaled-down interscholastic tournaments.

“We look forward to Tinian and Rota squads joining play and will be modifying our typical double-elimination format in lieu of pool play followed by a single-elimination format to decide this year’s champions!” added Gross.

Tanapag Middle School volleyball coach Catherine Woodruff welcomes the decision of the PSS Athletic Programs to change the league format due to the pandemic currently raging on the island.

“While it is much better for the players to have a league to interact more with other teams and develop their skills, I am thankful that at least they can have the experience of a tournament rather than the season being suspended altogether,” she said.

Saipan International School volleyball coach Mili Saiki seconded Woodruff’s assessment when she said, “It is fine as long as the kids have another opportunity to play.”