Pete A stays true on promise

Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio made 14 kids and their families happy beyond imagination when he fulfilled a promise during a trip to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport Friday.

Tenorio, better known as Pete A, surprised members of the 2004 Little League Pacific Regional Champions by showing three larger-than-life posters of the team installed at strategic sites inside the airport.

“I was with them in Williamsport when they played in the 2004 Little World Series last August. I got to watch their games and made a promise to them to have these posters installed. They saw a poster of Guam’s 2003 team [hanging] inside the stadium and wanted something like that,” said Pete A.

Justin Alexander can’t seem to stop rubbing his eyes while looking at the poster located at Holding Room B of the facility.

“I wanna thank the Washington Rep. for coming over and watching our games when we were in Pennsylvania. I also would like to thank him for this nice gift. This really means a lot to us,” said the 12-year-old pitcher/outfielder.

When told that not only two posters of the team hang at the airport, Alexander became more animated.

“It’s really cool to see our poster on the wall like this! We’re like famous here and to find out that there are more than two is just a great feeling,” he added.

Centerfielder Anthony Tenorio shared Alexander’s sentiments and also thanked Pete A for the gesture. “This is a huge thing for us. The Washington Rep. was really nice to have these in here,” said the 12-year-old centerfielder.

The team’s coach, Antonio Celis, echoed his players’ feelings. “Man, this really means everything for the kids, their families, and the people of Saipan.”

Manager Tony Benavente also cannot hide his pleasure and said that Pete A’s gift would spur future Little Leaguers to equal if not surpass his team’s achievements this year.

“This is quite gratifying because it shows that we are being recognized. This says that we went to the 2004 World Series and played against the best teams in the world. People coming to the CNMI—tourists, former residents coming back home, and other people—would know that we are the 2004 Little League Pacific Regional Champions,” he said.

Parent Vicky Sers Nicolas, for her part, said the effort and hard work of the kids has really paid off and has kept paying off.

“All of them deserve this recognition. They worked hard for this and now they’re enjoying their success.”

The other members of the team are Philip Manalo, Alex Benevente, Keith Kintol, Eli Augenbaugh, Ofero Taitano, Cameron Sers Nicolas, Eric Tenorio, David Camacho, Donovan George, Anthony Rogolifoi, Ike Aldan, and R-Jay Joe.

The two other posters at the airport are located at Holding Room A and at the arrival lounge.

Aside from the three hanging on the airport, another 6-feet by 8-feet poster of the team proudly hang at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.