Harlem Ambassadors here next month

The Harlem Ambassadors Show Basketball Team will be playing one game on Rota May 10 and one game on Saipan on May 12 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Game times for both matches will be 7pm.

Continental Airlines is playing a major role in the entire tour of the Harlem Ambassadors, and on Saipan. The Pacific Islands Club, Toyota Rent A Car and PREL are all assisting as sponsors. On Rota the Mayors Office, the Municipal Council, and Rota Resort Hotel are sponsoring the event.

Both islands will be putting together All Star teams to compete against the Ambassadors. The 2001 Pacific Tour is part of a 14 game schedule beginning in Hawaii and ending in Fiji, and the Cook Islands, while including most of the Micronesia Islands.

The Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show features high flying slam dunks, dazzling ball handling, and comedy routines led by Lade Majic (5’7″ Point Guard), Queen of Show Basketball. The only woman coach/player of an all men’s professional team. Lade Majic has played more show basketball games than any women history. She competes against opposing men players on a nightly basis and represents a great positive role model for young girls.

A native of New Jersey, she was the MVP of New Jersey State Basketball Tournament while leading her high school to the state title. She later starred at the university of Missouri as a member of the Tiger’s Big Eight Championship team. Since graduating, she has coached high school, college and professional teams, and continues to play summers in New York City outdoor leagues. She also played professional ball in Israel.

Lade Majic toured for five seasons with the Harlem Wizards, and has been invited to WNBA Camps. She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and has worked extensively with at-risk youth through her NO FEAR Foundation.

Another super player with outstanding ball handling skills and , who now has added some juggling skills to his repertoire is 6’1″ Guard Ketrick Jazz Copeland from Senatobie, Mississppi. He starred at Rust College in Mississippi, averaging 17 points a game and was considered a 3-point specialist. Jazz has a degree in Communications from Rust College. He also spent some time performing with the Athletes in Action Basketball Team.

Other players will be announced at a later date.

Saipan tickets will go on sale next week at the PIC Front Desk, Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, Saipan Mayors Office, and from members of the Northern Marianas Sports Challenge Committee. Tickets will cost $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 years and under. Discounted tickets for children only will be available if an adult accompanies three or more children from the same family. Special Discounts will also be available to ticket purchasers on Tinian.

The Sports Challenge Organizers are also putting aside free tickets on special groups, and BANMI is responsible for selecting the All Star team who will play against the Ambassadors.

Although not yet finalized, the team will arrive on Rota May 10th, visit a school and conduct a clinic for children, before playing their game that same evening in the Rota Gym. On May 11th the team will leave for Saipan, where they will visit schools and also conduct a clinic. PIC will also host a clinic on their hotel grounds. Saipan’s contest will be on May 12th at 7:00 pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The Ambassadors leave for Guam the following morning.

For further information contact Bill Sakovich at 234-1002, or Vic Pangelinan, Kimo Rosario, Bobbie Grizzard, Brien Nicholas, Syl Ada and Jon Gonzales.