Tan Holdings sponsors 2023 season of SBL

From left, Northern Marianas Sports Association general secretary Valerie Hofschneider, NMSA board member Nick Gross, Saipan Baseball League board member Herman Kintol, Tan Holdings Corp. vice president for Business Development and NMSA board member Alex Sablan, Tan Siu Lin Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino, SBL president Jay Santos, Tan Holdings Corp. president and CEO Jerry Tan, SBL board member Shine Tenorio, SBL vice president George Camacho, and SBL board member Kyle Hocog pose for a photo after the formalization of Tan Holdings as a $10,000 sponsor of the 2023 SBL season last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.(LEIGH GASES)

America’s pastime is back in the CNMI after a four-year hiatus and Tan Holdings Corp. is bankrolling the Saipan Baseball League’s 2023 season to the tune of $10,000, with the opening game scheduled this Saturday, March 25, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field in Susupe.

The SBL board, including president Jay Santos, vice president George Camacho, board members Herman Kintol, Mark Flores, Shine Tenorio, and Kyle Hocog, were joined by Tan Holdings president and CEO Jerry Tan, Tan Siu Lin Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino, and Tan Holdings vice president fpr Business Development and Northern Marianas Sports Association member Alex Sablan, along with NMSA member Nick Gross and NMSA general secretary Valerie Hofschneider, and SBL coaches and managers in the formalization of its sponsorship last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.

Santos was emotional as he looked around the room full of people who had a role in the resumption of baseball in the CNMI. He was speechless when he had the floor and finally thanked Tan and the entire Tan Holdings for agreeing to sponsor the season. “The sponsorship will go a long way to getting baseball back on track,” said Santos.

He said that the sponsorship will cover utility costs, field and maintenance costs, and game officials. “This sponsorship is certainly going to go a long way in determining the success of our season,” said Santos.

As for the 11 teams consisting of the Cardinals, Braves, Falcons, CK Bears, Brewers, Bandits, Blue Jays, Jr. Nationals, Comets, Natives, and D’9ers, Santos said that “I’m excited that there’s 11 teams. It just tells me that people want baseball back and I’m hopeful that it’ll be a very competitive season.”

Santos added that Tan will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

In Tan’s remarks, he said “you cannot talk about sports in the CNMI without talking about baseball. It’s America’s pastime.” He recalled how sad it was after the past typhoons damage on the fields, but that even without it, the CNMI still took home gold in baseball during the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022.

For the opening ceremony this month, Tan said that “it will be a very happy day for the community—not just for the players and coaches, but the entire community.” He thanked SBL for agreeing to take on the sponsorship. “We’re thankful to Jay and the rest of the board for the opportunity. We’re very excited to see 11 teams play—the biggest amount so far and it will grow from there.”
Tolentino
, for her part, said that “we are happy to be part of baseball. [Tan Holdings] celebrated its 50th anniversary last year but wanted baseball to be a part of it so we extended it… I hope that this partnership is not only for this season. Tan Holdings wants to continue its partnership with SBL in the future.”

Fans will also be shaded and dry under the bleachers that now have covers over it. The season will last until June and will be played at night. There is no set schedule yet besides the opening day which will have two games. 

Santos said that with the end of the season in June, hopefully the timing is right to send a CNMI team to play in Palau for the Micronesian Baseball Classic also set in June.