SPORTS BRIEFS

STA TO HOLD 2ND VERIZON CUP

The Saipan Tennis Association will hold the 2nd Verizon Cup starting on July 28 at American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Players could only sign up for a maximum of two divisions per week. Entry fee is $8 for members and $15 for non-members. Draw date for the doubles competition is on July 23, while the draw for the singles and mixed doubles is set on July 30. All drawings will be held at the AMP clubhouse at 6pm and will be posted on the bulletin board.

For more information on the 2nd Verizon Cup please call Pangelinan at 256-7769, Nelia Luna at 288-5151/287-0859, Agnes Salazar at 287-0858, Richard Asuncion at 287-0856, Babu Malayil at 286-9745, or Lope Padilla at 286-9733. Those interested can also e-mail STA at saipan_tennis@yahoo.com. Sports

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ON JULY 31

The National Track and Field Championships will be staged on July 31 at the Oleai Sports Complex’s new track and field facility.

The Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation announced that running events slated are the 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and relays. Field events to be contested are the shotput, discus, javelin, and long jump.

Majority of the events are scheduled to start at 3pm. The NMITFF, however, noted that some events like the 5000m would have to be scheduled at an earlier time.

The National Track and Field Championships is open to everyone and those interested should visit the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium at the Oleai Sports Complex to get registration forms.

For more information please call NMITFF development coach Elias Rangamar at 664-2503 or 664-2508.

TOC EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ONGOING

The countdown has already begun to the Tournament of Champions 2004, and with only a couple of weeks remaining until the early bird entry discount expires, now is the time to register for one of the region’s premiere golfing events.

The final day to qualify for the $175 fees is Friday, July 23. After that, those wishing to participate in the ninth staging of the tournament will be required to pay $200.

If you are interested in playing in the tournament, pick up a registration form at Las Vegas Discount Golf, Dan Dan Driving Range, the DFS Galleria, any of the Shell gas stations, or at any of the local golf courses. Completed forms should be dropped off on the second floor of the DFS Galleria at the security/administration office. For more information about the tournament, visit the tournament website at www.tocsaipan.org.

25-AND-UNDER CAGING SET TO START

The BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League is slated to begin in the second or third week of this month.

Players eligible to see action in the league are those whose 26th birthday does not predate the opening of the season. Team rosters should be submitted as soon as possible and should include the participants’ proof of age.

For more information on the upcoming 22-and-under Basketball League, please call league coordinator Abner Venus at 287-5911.

CFL ASKING FOR NEW LOGO FOR NEW SEASON

The Commonwealth Football League is planning to change its old logo design and is accepting new designs from the islands’ artists.

The 2004 season of the CFL is set to start on August 14 and board chairman John S. Blanco hopes that a new logo would be in place before that.

For more information on the logo design request, contact Blanco by calling 483-3517 or 288-2639.

CFL’S VERIZON ISLANDERS HOLDING PRACTICES

Verizon Islanders of the Commonwealth Football League want is holding practices every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the airport football field beginning at 5:30pm.

Team representative Gus Romolor is inviting anyone that is interested to practice with the team. He wants his team to be prepared this year and to him, there’s no time like the present.

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 fishing tourney.

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 event, 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.