New team enters as Mobil gears up for another season

Officials for the 6th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Invitational Co-ed Basketball League met yesterday, welcomed a new team, and began prepping for the start of the 2006 season, which is targeted to begin in the third week of January.

League coordinator Abner Venus and Mobil Oil Marianas regional manager Jojo Dadivas revealed yesterday at the Aqua Resort Club that 10 teams will vie for the coveted title.

Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan, then Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, leads the cast as the defending champion, while those who look to dethrone the team are host Mobil Oil Marianas, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Aqua Resort Club, Hyatt Regency Saipan, McDonald’s, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Microl-Toyota, the CNMI Women’s National Team, and newcomer Saipan Ice & Water Co.

Dadivas said Saipan Ice replaces Pacific Development Inc.

Meanwhile, Venus instructed all in attendance that uniforms sizes of all players in the 15-cager roster must be submitted to him no later than next week to ensure that the uniforms are ordered and arrive in time for the kick off. All uniforms will feature the same design, with each team assigned a base color.

As in the past, all teams must have at least two female players. At least one female player must be on the court at all times during the first and third quarter, and male players will be whistled for technical fouls if they defend a female cager, except when the team plays the Women’s Nationals.

Venus also disclosed that the top six teams will advance to a single elimination playoffs, with the top two getting first round byes.

Awards include champion, pennant champion, regular season and playoffs most valuable players, first, second, and third runners up, Mythical Five, female MVP, and sportsmanship.

Last year, Dai-Ichi won the championship against host Mobil, 130-114. Empty-handed in its first three years in the league (it didn’t suit up in the league’s inaugural season), Dai-Ichi benefited with its merging with sister team Tan Holding Corp. and fielded a powerful lineup led by 2005 MVP Elmer Esdrelon and a Japanese import in the person of cage belle Noe Okahira.

The Mobil crown was previously worn by THC (2001), Microl (2002), PDI (2003), and Aqua Resort Club (2004).

For more information on the 2006 Mobil Oil Marianas Invitational Co-ed Basketball League, contact Venus at 287-5911.