Two basketball clubs on Saipan will be representing the CNMI in the 3rd Annual Barrigada MPC Thanksgiving Tournament in Guam.
The Saipan Southern Sonics Club is heading to Guam tomorrow to compete in the 16-and-under age group, while Rollers Basketball Club will field teams in the 14-and-under, 16-and-under, and 18-and-under divisions.
The Jesse Tudela-coached Sonics want to make a mark anew in the annual tournament after missing last year's event. Tudela's wards ruled the 18-and-under competition of the Thanksgiving caging in 2007 and finished fourth in the 14-and-under age group.
The Joe Diaz-mentored Rollers made it to last year's tournament with their 16-and-under squad placing runner-up to hosts Barrigada Crusaders and the visitors' 14-and-under team finishing fourth.
“I think we have a good chance to finish in the Top 3 this year in the 14-and-under and 16-and-under age groups. We have several players who will play in Guam for the first time and it will be a great learning experience for them to challenge players from various villages there,” Diaz said. “We will also let our 16-and-under players compete in the 18-and-under, so they will get the feel to compete in the higher age group.”
Both basketball clubs thanked the public and private sectors, which are supporting the teams' campaign in the tournament that will run from Nov. 21 to 29 and will feature nine other villages in Guam.
“The Sonics would like to thank Rep. Edward T. Salas for the team uniforms and financial assistance. We also thanked the Basketball Association of the Northern Marianas Islands for their monetary donation. Through numerous donations and contributions from family, friends, former players, and members of the government and business community, the Sonics was able to purchase airfare tickets,” Tudela said.
“The team is still short of $2,000 for hotel accommodations and any financial assistance in this tough economic times will be greatly appreciated,” the Sonics coach added.
For his part, Diaz thanked the following for making Rollers' trip to Guam possible: Tan Siu Lin Foundation, BANMI, Hertz Rent A Car, EFC, Toothworks, Reps. Salas, Arnold Palacios, Ramon Tebuteb, Frank Dela Cruz, Joseph Guerrero, and Heinz Hofschneider, Aon Insurance, IT&E, Atty. Ed Arriola, Wing Travel, Guam Aiport Hotel, Megabyte, and Saipan Shipping.
For more information about the Sonics team, contact Tudela at southernsonics@yahoo.com or 483-9477.
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