Tenepere suits up for Team Boston in Bill Russell tribute

Former Mawati forward Ramsa Tenepere, fifth from right, poses with his Team Boston teammates in the recent two-day Philippine Athletic Sports Association basketball tournament. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Former Mawati forward Ramsa Tenepere recently played for Team Boston in a two-day tournament that served as a tribute to the late Celtic great Bill Russell.

“I did well as a role player with my defense in our last game during the two-day PASA tournament against Annapolis, Maryland. I was tired because I never played two games in a day since I left Saipan. But my team did our best in the tournament,” he said.

PASA stands for Philippine Athletic Sports Association and Tenepere’s Team Boston eventually lost to Annapolis by a hair, 51-50.

Aside from the 2023 PASA two-day tournament, the 5’8” pride of Alaminos, Pangasinan has also suited up for New England in the Jammers All Filipino League in the spring season and is currently playing for A Team in the Boston Asian Basketball League in Massachusetts. 

Among the ex-players from the Philippine Basketball Association that suited up in the leagues he played in were former Shell Rimula X guard Dale Singson and former Alaska shooter Rhoel Gomez.

On how much he adjusted his playing style after moving to the U.S. mainland, the 38-year-old Tenepere said, “I play small forward and power forward here in Massachusetts. But back in Saipan, I used to play all-around.”

Tenepere left Saipan in November 2021 and after a short vacation in his native Philippines, he moved to Boston at the end of January 2022 for what he says for “a better opportunity.”

Ramsa Tenepere, left, poses with ex-Philippine Basketball Association guard Dale Singsong.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“I currently live in Everett, Massachusetts or they call it Greater Boston and I’m currently working for United Airlines as a ramp service employee.”

Aside from Mawati, Tenepere also played for El Segundo Restaurant in the Inter-Restaurant Basketball League and POI in the Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League and Fong’s Bakery, SSFM, Tan Holdings, Chowtime, Tsingtao, and Ming Yang Supermarket in various commercial leagues on Saipan. He started playing basketball on Saipan way back in 2004.

Asked what’s his most memorable game on Saipan, Tenepere said it’s definitely the finals of the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League where his team,  Tsingtao Boyz,  defeated Darwin Barbo’s Connie’s Catering for the championship.

“I think that’s my most memorable game because we all gave our hearts and our best during that championship game. We did not give up and each player contributed from offense to defense.”

While he has settled nicely on the East Coast, the former employee of Kanoa Resort and Pacific Oriental Inc. said he still fondly reminisces about life in the Commonwealth. 

“What I miss the most about Saipan is the simple island life and the beaches.”