SBL: Hopeful to get tournament started

The University of Guam Tritons baseball team poses for a photo with Saipan Baseball League president Jay Santos, standing in front, fifth from left, during their luncheon with Tan Holdings’ Catherine Attao-Toves, sixth from left, and Alex Sablan, second from left, at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan yesterday. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Santos said in an interview yesterday afternoon that he hopes games are able to be played either that night or tonight.

The University of Guam Tritons is set to compete with the Top 2 teams of the 2023 Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League—the undefeated Cardinals and the Junior Nationals, along with the SBL All-Stars team composed of players from teams that didn’t make the playoffs.

If last night’s games went through, it would’ve been between the UOG Tritons versus the SBL All-Stars; tonight would be UOG versus the Cardinals; for tomorrow, Saturday July 29, the Tritons should face off against the Junior Nationals, followed by the Tritons and the SBL-All Stars on Sunday, July 30.

Santos said that he feels bad about canceling the tournament due to the weather. The tourney was supposed to start on Tuesday. As for the teams competing, he said, “Our first place Cardinals I know would be very competitive. I know all our teams would be very competitive if we can finally get some games going.”

He added, “But Guam’s got a very strong team as well and a number of their players are from the Guam national team that was here for the Mini Games last year. We just hope the weather will cooperate so we can get this going.”

SBL and UOG plan to make this tournament an annual event.
Santos then thanked the UOG Tritons head coach Roke Alcantara Jr. for reaching out to get a tournament between SBL and UOG going.

As for the baseball youth clinic, it should still go on as scheduled today if the weather permits. The schedule for today is from 1pm to 4pm open for 16- to 21-year-olds and on Saturday, July 29, for U12 from 9am to 11am; and for U15 from 12pm to 2pm.

Santos is also thankful to the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for hosting a luncheon for the UOG Tritons team along with Santos and Herman Kintol, tournament director, at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan yesterday.

Santos thanked Catherine Attao-Toves, Tan Holdings vice president for Corporate Affairs and Human Resources; Alex Sablan, Tan Holdings vice president; and Merlie Tolentino executive director of the TSL Foundation for the luncheon and to Tan Holdings for their support of baseball in the CNMI.

Along with them, Santos thanked their other sponsors IT&E, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, MARPAC, and TakeCare Insurance. “If it wasn’t for all these organizations, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are now with baseball on island.”