SPORTS BRIEFS

UFO caging eyes May 30 start

The United Filipino Organization is revving up for a May 30 start for its 5th Annual UFO Inter-Organization Basketball League.

The start of the popular all-Filipino cage league was designed so that the league will be at full throttle for the 106th Philippine Independence Day celebrations on June 12.

The May 30 opening would also coincide with the planned 2004 Palarong Filipino festivities of the Filipino community.

All interested member organizations of the UFO that wish to join the basketball league, may contact Ramon Awit at 234-5424 or Roland Pamintuan at 234-8391 for more information.

CFL Pepsi Chiefs set meeting

The Pepsi Chiefs of the Commonwealth Football League will be holding a team meeting Thursday, June 3, on the beach behind the Aquarius Beach Tower at 6pm in Chalan Kanoa. The newest team of gridiron warriors will have their first practice on Monday, June 7.

Anyone interested or for more information about the Chiefs, contact Danny Pinumata by calling 664-9084 or 644-9085.

Swim lessons up

The Saipan Swim Club will once again attempt to make swimmers of land-lovers.

Starting on June 7 through 18, the SSC will conduct swim lessons from 7:30am to 8:30am at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.

To pre-register please call Bill Sakovich at 322-9990, Linda Graf at 322-4723, or Mike Villagomez at 256-5668 or leave a message on the answering machines. Those interested are requested to leave their names and other pertinent information like level of swimming and contact numbers.

Saipan fishing tourney on Aug. 28 and 29

The 20th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament will be held on August 28 and 29 and boats from Guam, Palau, Rota, and Tinian are expected to grace the two-day event.

The top three ranks will be awarded in the following game fish categories: Bill fish, yellow fin, wahoo, mahi mahi, and skip jack. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first participant to land a marlin weighing over 624.34 lbs. and a yellow fin tuna weighing over 106 lbs.

Applications for the tourney, containing the rules and schedules of the event will soon be available at the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Fishing Tackle Shop.

For more information on the 20th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Martin F. Duenas at 664-3200/3201 or Wolf Mojica at 234-6615.

PACRIM tourney back again

The Pacific Rim Youth Goodwill Tournament will be returning for its third installment later this year, as basketball and volleyball players from around the region will once again be competing at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium in Oleai.

Participants from the CNMI, Japan, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, the Philippines, and the Republic of Belau are invited to take part in all of the scheduled festivities.

The tournament is scheduled to begin Saturday, November 20, continuing through the next Saturday, November 27.

All teams are encouraged to register early in either Division I (12-14 years old), or Division II (15-18 years old). Registration fee is $100.00 per team.

For more information, or to register for the tournament, please call the Youth Affairs Office (664-2248/2229 fax 664-2249), Office of the Governor, Fermin Meriang (664-2215 fax 664-2211), DCCA Division of Sports and Recreation, Elias Rangamar (664-2500 fax 234-1101), Workforce Investment Agency, Michelle Olopai (664-1700 fax 322-7333), PRELL Office, Melissa Magofna (234-6000 fax 234-7735). E-mail requests are to be sent to youngone@vzpacifica.net or govyao@vzpacifica.net.