Shell Marianas is latest FIBA tourney gold sponsor

Shell Marianas became the fourth gold sponsor of the 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament after agreeing to donate $5,000 for the event set for next month.

Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael A. White and FIBA international referee Gabriel White visited Shell area manager Jeff Boyer yesterday to receive the check at the company’s office in Puerto Rico.

Aside from the $5,000 sponsorship, Boyer said Shell will also be giving free gas to help with the tournament’s transportation needs.

“We’re coming in as a gold-level sponsor but right now what Shell is attempting to do is bump that up a little bit by offering some support with regards to the tourney’s transportation needs. We would supply the fuel, per Shell’s cost,” he said.

Michael A. White thanked Boyer in behalf of BANMI and said the monetary and in-kind donations will go a long way in making the tournament a success.

“Shell’s a household name across the Pacific. It’s a great product and they have good people. We’re very conscious of their continued support to the sporting community here in the Northern Marianas and we’re very proud and very happy to have them as a sponsor in our tournament,” he said.

Boyer said sponsoring an event like the 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament is a rare opportunity for companies like Shell.

“It is an exciting option for us because it is the first time we will be hosting this. Anytime that Saipan has the ability to host something of this magnitude it’s a great thing. A company such as ours would love to be involved, which is why we are supporting this very much,” he said.

The BANMI official, meanwhile, said Shell’s offer to shoulder the cost of gas for the tournament’s transportation requirements shows how much the company is bending backwards to help BANMI’s and FIBA’s needs.

“Transportation is one of our bigger costs and we hope they can help with the cost of the busses that we’ll have to procure to get athletes back and forth.”

He also took the opportunity to invite the local community to come to the Marianas High School Gymnasium and Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium to watch the tournament next month.

“We’re looking at teams from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guam, and us and we’re expecting a great tournament. That’s men’s and women’s. We have four gold sponsors and we’re pleased the way the community has turned out to support this event.”

The addition of Shell brings to six the number of sponsors for the tournament. It joins gold sponsors DFS Galleria Saipan, Joeten, IT&E, and Tan Holdings. McDonald’s Saipan earlier donated $2,000 for the tourney.

The 2009 FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament will run from June 20 to 28 and BANMI said additional sponsorships are still available for companies who want to take advantage of associating with this prestigious tournament.

For further information about sponsorship opportunities, contact BANMI president Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or Michael A. White at 234-6547.