Super Bowl XXXIX brought out best in Saipan as well

By Mark Rabago, Shan Seman, and Brad E. Ruszala
Reporters

The National Football League displayed two of the finest teams from the regular season in the pinnacle of their sport, while several local establishments pulled out all the stops to provide for a special time for their patrons.

Over 350 people gathered together at Hafa Adai Beach Hotel’s Fiesta Hall yesterday to witness Super Bowl XXXIX with a few of their closest friends and favorite food and beverages, as Mar Pac Distributing, in association with Budweiser, once again put on one of the biggest parties for the biggest football game of the year. Fans were treated to a pair of giant screen television sets and several smaller screens throughout the Fiesta Hall as they cheered on their team of choice.

A number of people also gathered at AJ’s Restaurant in Susupe to watch the game. While several people expressed their loyalty toward the defending champions, Boom Guerrero, Alex Villazon, Randy Benito, and John Cabrera admitted to making the trip to the Susupe facility to root for the underdog Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’m going for the Eagles! You’ve got to go with the NFC, baby,” said Guerrero.

Roughly 40 people also made their way to Hamilton’s Bar in Gualo Rai, where the owners brought in a couple extra monitors to go along with the big screen set. Chants of “T.O.” and “Sports Zone” echoed off of the homey walls as the New England Patriots pressed on to win their third NFL title in four years.

Over at the Hibiscus Hall of Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, some 130 people watched the game on what probably was the biggest projector screen on the island at the Coors Light Super Bowl Party.

It was an even 50-50 split for New England and Philadelphia faithful at the venue with the likes of David Attao of Northern Marianas College, businessmen Ray Bermudez and Donald Mendiola, diehard gridiron fans Dennis Villagomez and Stanley Techur, Seabridge’s Glenn Palacios, and San Diego transplant Perry Tenorio rooting for the Patriots.

Eagles fans, meanwhile, included Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan, Verizon Nitro’s Gus Romolor, local cager Ray Lizama, local golf pro Sasaki Oliver, and charming hostess Kathy Chargualaf.

The two camps may have disagreed on who was the better team but all seem to give a big thumbs up to Dai-Ichi and Coors Lights’ Super Bowl Party, which had a brunch buffet working overtime the entire game and ice-cold beverages on their beck and call.

Thirty-seven-year-old Alvin Alvarez also scored a double victory of sorts when he celebrated the Patriots’ Super Bowl win by bagging the 21-inch flat screen TV grand prize in the raffle.

A more modest and less boisterous crowd gathered at Aqua Resort Club’s Raraina Restaurant.

It was just what Martin [surname withheld on request] wanted. He said he liked ARC’s setup because it was near his home at Capitol Hill and was quieter and more subdued than other venues.

Super Bowl XXXIX fever also enveloped the Pacific Islands Club with over a hundred passionate fans cheering away and rooting for their respective teams at Charlie’s Cabaret.

Majority of the crowd was in favor of the Eagles, and the roof was almost blown away when the venue’s big screen and numerous TV sets showed Donavan McNabb connecting with L.J. Smith with 9:55 remaining in the first half for the game’s first score.

“This feels so good,” said Eagle fan Joe Diaz. “Since I started watching the NFL when I was 12 years old, I liked the Eagles and I stuck with them. I felt so bad the last three years, but now it feels good. When they made it [to the Super Bowl] I told my wife ‘I gotta go watch it.’”

The PIC party, sponsored by Miller Lite, also featured various games and raffle drawings with prizes ranging from free dinners, lunches, and stays at PIC, to the $500 grand prize.

“We have a lot of food, all the Miller Lite you can get, beautiful hosts, and of course the grand prize,” said Paul Gauci, a PIC club mate, who along with fellow club mates Shawna Ping and Diana Heintz, served as hosts.

Pacific Trading Co. general manager Charles Cepeda said the Miller Lite parties at PIC and Aqua Resort and the Coors Light affair at Dai-Ichi were all very successful.

“We’re pretty happy with the turnout at Dai-Ichi, PIC, and Aqua Resort. We’re looking at around 300 paying customers in all three venues. We gave away over $1,500 worth of cash prizes and hundred dollars more on in-kind items,” he said.