‘Mich’ Ultra Cup technical meeting today

The CNMI’s top basketball players will see action in the 2023 “Mich” Ultra Cup Men’s Islandwide Basketball League, which is set to unfurl at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (NMIBF)

The Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation and MarPac are calling on all interested teams to attend the technical meeting for the 2023 “Mich” Ultra Cup Men’s Islandwide Basketball set for 5:30pm today, April 11, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

NMIBF president James Lee said all representatives of interested teams are required to attend the meeting as pertinent details of the league will be discussed.

The 2023 “Mich” Ultra Cup will make its much-anticipated opening on April 18 at the newly renovated and fully air-conditioned Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

So far, a total of 10 teams have signified their interest in joining the premier men’s open basketball league in the CNMI—Bridge Capital LLC, Lakay, New Chang Ming Market, Ol’Aces, Roil Soil OG, Team Marianas, Rollers, and Kagman.

Lee earlier said the games will be using FIBA rules and regulations and teams are allowed a maximum of 14 players each—with at least five players 21 years old or older—along with three coaches.

Participating teams will be divided into two pools—Pool A and Pool B. Teams in each pool will play each other in a round-robin affair with the Top 4 teams advancing to a single-elimination format. 

Under that crossover format, the top seed in Pool A will take on the fourth seed on Pool B, second seed in Pool A will play the third seed in Pool B, third seed in Pool A will square off against the second seed in Pool B. and the fourth seed in Pool A will duke it out against the top seed in Pool B. The four surviving teams will then play each other for the two slots in the finals.

As for the prizes, the champion team will receive a much ballyhooed House at MarPac perpetual trophy, $500 in cash, five cases of Michelob Ultra, and 17 Michelob Ultra diddy bags,

NMIBF earlier said it was naming the league’s MVP the Uncle Paul Shimizu MVP Award.

Shimizu was not only one of MarPac’s owners, but also was a former Guam national basketball player, gold medalist, and national coach. 

Shimizu, who passed away in March 2021, was the youngest of four siblings born to Ambrosio Shimizu, the founder of Ambros, Inc., which owns MarPac.

As such, the player who wins the Uncle Paul Shimizu MVP Award will get an MVP trophy, $200 cash, a case of Michelob Ultra, a Michelob Ultra cooler, a Michelob Ultra Yeti flask, and other Michelob Ultra gear.

For more information and inquiries, email NMIBF at nmibasketballfederation@gmail.com.