Pacific Amusement, SEDA donate electronic dart equipment to Hopwood

Pacific Amusement Inc. donated an estimated $1,000 worth of electronic dart equipment to Hopwood Middle School last Friday.

Aside from electronic darts, Pacific Amusement, which runs the Saipan Electronic Dart Association, also donated two electronic dart boards, extendable stands, and tips.

HMS principal Victorino Borja thanked Pacific Amusement and SEDA for donating the electronic dart equipment to the Chalan Piao school.

“This is the first time in history that [the Public School System] is actually going to have a dart league and we’re starting it here in Hopwood. And we’re thinking if it goes well, were going to expand it and move it to other middle schools.”

Borja also told students who are part of HMS’ newly established Dart Club that involvement in the dart program would have the same requirements as other sports-related programs as they need to keep their grades up in order to participate.

In an interview with HMS classroom teacher and Dart Club adviser Victor Cabrera, he explained that they just started their club this year and automatically had 50 students sign up.

“We were trying to find out where we’re going to get equipment and all of that so that’s why we really want to send a big thank you to SEDA. The Saipan Electronic Dart Association has really stepped up in helping us with our kids and donating all these equipment.”

Cabrera added that “the teachers actually have a dart team and we play in the government league. Our principal, vice principal, and all the teachers are all part of the team and we’re dressed up today in our uniforms…We figured ‘hey we’re having so much fun doing this as adults, why don’t we bring this for our kids’… you know start something off. So, we did and when we mentioned it to the Saipan Electronic Darts Association… They were so happy and they did not waste any time and jumped on it immediately and let us know they want to donate and help…”

Pacific Amusement and SEDA’s Rowena Cook and Ivan Sales spoke briefly after the ceremony.

“Pacific Amusement really wants to help the community especially the children,” said Sales, while acknowledging Cook’s help in facilitating the donation to Hopwood.

Cabrera shared that the plan for their dart program was to build a team where students would play competitively against other schools.

“Because SEDA is an expert on tournaments and leagues we’re also asking them for their professional expertise in the matter and helping us set up divisions for our students as well. We wanted it to be as professional as it is in the states were youth leagues in the U.S. also have divisions.”

Aside from inter-school competitions, Cabrera said their goal is to eventually invitate Guam schools to come to Saipan and have a friendly tournament and “let the kids express themselves in something other than the usual sports they’re used to.”