Local gridiron wars begin

By CHRIS BELANGER
FOR THE SAIPAN TRIBUNE

The Commonwealth Football League kicks-off its 5th season tomorrow at the CPA Airport Football Field with two gridiron games on tap. The 2005 season begins at 10am with the Typhoons taking on the Barbarians. In the 1pm tilt, the Express Electronics Eagles do battle with the Shell Lightning.

After one season of only three Saipan-based teams, the 2005 season has the return of the Typhoon, the gridiron gladiators from Tinian. In addition, the old guard from the now-defunct Predators will be found spread-out in the Eagles and Lightning. Only the Barbarians return as the sole squad participating in all five CFL seasons.

The players have been practicing for the past two months, the CFL board has been getting the logistics set for the season, the schedule has been revamped to include two night games on Tinian, and now it’s time to play some football, CFL-style.

The following is a preview of all four teams vying for the 2005 CFL championship.

Barbarians

It’s been a difficult road for the Barbarians in getting a sponsor, and at the time of this report, no confirmation on whether Miller Lite would again sponsor the Barbarians as was the case for the first four CFL seasons. Assistant coach Chong Won says there is a lot of uncertainty and unanswered questions regarding the 2005 Barbarians. Won does feel confident that quarterback Plas Tagabuel and receivers B.J. Tagabuel and Alison Kaipat will be the mainstays on offense. On the other side of the ball, Sid Tebuteb returns to anchor the Barbarians’ defense.

“The players are excited and want to play ball,” Won said. “However, it has been a struggle getting a sponsor, but I’m still hopeful.”

The Barbarians won the CFL title in 2001 and have remained competitive every year. The 2005 Barbarians are coached by John Tagabuel and the team has some veterans and several rookies and new faces to the CFL.

Typhoon

Back for their third season in five years are the boys from Tinian, the Typhoon. Player representative, Keith Nabors says “It’s like starting the program all over again. We want to get the program going and build upon it; hopefully this year will have it snowball.”

Nabors, a player, and assistant coach says the Typhoon’s strength lies on its defensive line, as for the offense.

“We’ll see what are strengths on offense will be whether it be an aerial attack or a running game, we haven’t been tested, so we’ll see,” he said.

Having a coach is always a plus and the Typhoon are mentored by Andre Winston who has football experience in playing and coaching from the U.S. mainland.

Once again, the Typhoon will have to make the weekly ferry ride to and from Tinian to Saipan to play football; however, in 2005, the CFL Board approved unanimously to have two Typhoon home games played on Tinian. One game will be played in October and the other in November.

Nabors says although the team has to scrap for money to make it to Saipan every week to play, he does thank the Tinian Mayor’s Office for making the Typhoon’s participation in the 2005 CFL season possible.

Shell Lightning

Several members of the Shell Lightning we’re from last season’s champion Chiefs. The other half went to the Express Electronics Eagles. Player/coach John Blanco has lost a lot of sleep to insure that the league has parity.

“It’s gonna be interesting,” Blanco said. “We’re the new guys on the block. We have a lot of rookies with no action seen.”

The Lightning do have a few veterans with the likes of Blanco and brothers Chico and Dominic Reyes. As for their offense, Blanco says “we’ll just have to see on game day.” On defense count on the Reyes brothers to be the mainstay. In a word about the 2005 CFL season, Blanco says “It’s been tough getting the people together and working out the logistics. We have respect for all the other teams who have to get their players together. Let’s get the season goin’!”

As for the team goal, Blanco says “ Like any other team, the Shell Lightning want to win the championship!”

Express Electonics Eagles

The darkhorse for the 2005 CFL season could very well be the Express Electronics Eagles. The defensive unit looks very much like the Predators of the past while on offense a combination of speed and leadership will take them to the endzone. Coached by Pete Leau and Dan Punimata, the Eagles have a lot of youth mixed with the old, veterans that is, but as Leau says “it will be a defensive year.” With the likes of “Tala” and Paul Camacho anchored on defense while Dane Lizama takes the helm on offense partnered with Stanley Iakopo in the backfield, and frontmen Dean Camacho and Mark Wallace will make the Eagles a force to reckon with.

By the way, according to Leau “we’re not the Eagles cause we like the Philadelphia Eagles, we’re the Eagles because we are paying tribute to our Troops (overseas defending our country and the CNMI).”

The CFL board members, the football players, and the CNMI’s gridiron spectators are ready and come tomorrow, it’s kick-off time for the CFL.