NMASA to send 140-strong delegation to Palau

The Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association is looking at sending about 140 athletes and officials to the South Pacific Mini Games slated next year in the Republic of Palau.

NMASA president Michael White said the CNMI would participate in 11 out of the 12 sports that will be played.

White said NMASA will be entering athletes in track and field, baseball, beach volleyball, softball, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, and basketball.

White said NMASA already has the names of the coaches for each sport. They are the following: Elias Rangamar and Thom Gipson, track and field; Tony Rogolifoi and Jason Gay, baseball; Don Blondin, men’s and women’s basketball; Nan Intharaluk, beach volleyball; Robert Guerrero, men’s and women’s softball; Mike Stewart, swimming; Steven Lim, table tennis; Jeff Race, lawn tennis; Russ Quinn, triathlon, Jacinta Kapileo, weightlifting; and Joe Ocampo, wrestling.

The only sport the CNMI will not have an entry for in the quadrennial games is in canoeing. The NMASA president disclosed that no canoeing association has attended the NMASA meetings forcing the board to drop the water sport from the list.

In terms of number, the sport that will be sending the most delegates for the mini games is softball. White said coach Guerrero will be bringing in 36 players and officials. Next is basketball, which will have 26 players and officials, followed by baseball (21), swimming (12), track and field (8), lawn tennis (7), table tennis (6), beach volleyball, weightlifting and triathlon (4 each), and wrestling (2).

White also furnished the list of the venues for the 2005 Mini South Pacific Games. Track and field will be held at the Palau National Track and Field. Basketball, meanwhile, will be played at two facilities–the Palau National Gym and Palau High School Gym.

For its part, baseball games will be staged at the Asahi Baseball Field. Softball will also have twin venues—Meyuns Softball Field and Airai Softball Field. The area known as K-B Bridge will be home to beach volleyball and triathlon, while tennis will be lodged at the Palau Pacific Resort as well as other venues.

Meyuns also appears to be a favorite of mini games organizers as the venue will play host to canoeing (Meyens Seaplane Ramp), swimming (Meyuns Swimming Pool), table tennis (Meyuns Gym and others), and weightlifting (Meyuns Gym). Last but not the least, wrestlers will grapple at the Mindszenty High School Auditorium.

The 2005 South Pacific Mini Games will be held from July 25 to Aug. 4.

White also reminded the 11 sports associations that will be sending athletes and officials to the mini games that the first $200 installment to pay for the fare, board, and lodging for the mini games is due on Oct. 1. Each athlete and official will have to raise $800 to be able to join the delegation to Palau. The rest of the deadlines are Jan. 1, March 1, and May 1.