Eight teams confirmed for HANMI Cup

Eight teams have confirmed their participation in the 2006 HANMI Cup-Inter Hotel Basketball League during an organizational meeting Wednesday at the Saipan Grand Hotel.

Representatives from Aqua Resort Club, Fiesta Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Marianas Resort and Spa, Pacific Islands Club, Saipan Grand Hotel, Saipan Nikko Hotel, and Saipan World Resort said their managements have already given the go-signals for them to join the competition.

Aside from the eight, two more teams are awaiting approval to take part in the basketball league exclusive for staff of the islands’ hotel industry.

Sources said Coral Ocean Point management was supposed to make their decision late Wednesday, while Century Hotel, which plans to enlist staff of Shirley’s Coffee Shop, is awaiting word from top brass whether to field a team or not.

Of the eight teams confirmed, only Hyatt has submitted its roster which includes Lucio Aldan, Philip Pedernal, Bobby Vargas, Cris Calub, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Bernard Aquino, Roman Roderiguez, Dexter Dillay, Jerson Villamor, Krisgel Arreza, Mike Umali, Jeffrey Tolentino, and Edmark Mendoza.

Aqua Resort Club and Nikko Hotel said they are almost done with their lineups, while Pacific Islands Club is still in process of selecting its players, as tryouts will continue throughout the week.

World Resort said it will hold tryouts at the soonest possible time after finally getting management support recently. Marianas Resort is in the same boat as World Resort and said it will work on its roster in the next few days.

Meanwhile, there are plans to consolidate the teams of Grand Hotel and Fiesta Resort, but representatives from both hotels said no final decision has been made yet.

Organizers reminded all eight confirmed hotels that submission of rosters, players’ verification of employment, and if possible, the $500 entrance fee, is tomorrow, Oct. 27, during the HANMI Cup’s next organizational meeting at 1pm at Grand Hotel.

The Inaugural HANMI Cup, organized by the Northern Marianas Bartenders Association with endorsement from the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, is expected to last three months with the champion crowned by early next year.

The champion team will be getting two pieces of hardware—a perpetual cup that will be passed to the reigning champion and a yearly trophy that the title team gets to keep.

For more information or for hotels interested in taking part in the revived HANMI Cup-Inter-Hotel Basketball League, contact coordinator Mark Rabago at 235-2440 local 134 or email him at makyo73yahoo.com or mark_rabago@saipantribune.com.