SPORTS BRIEFS

TLGA January Ace today

Tano’ Luta Golf Association will hold its first tournament of the year today, Jan, 22, at the Rota Resort and Country Club.

Showtime is at 8am and tee time is 9am. Tournament fee is $40 and limited to 20 players.

Pete S. Hocog won TLGA’s the Ace of the Aces Tournament recently and was named 2004 TLGA Golfer of the Year. Hocog edged out second-place finisher John Mendiola by a very slim margin. Hocog will represent TLGA in the upcoming 2005 Tournament of Champions on Saipan.

BANMI sets deadline for 25-and-under caging

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has set a Jan. 28 deadline for the opening of the 25-and-under Basketball League.

BANMI said if organizers of the 25-and-under competition are not able to come up with the six teams required to start the league before the deadline, then the board would have no choice but to pull the plug.

Registration fee for the 25-and-under league is $900 for teams who wish to have uniforms supplied by the league or $600 for teams who already have their own uniforms.

Players eligible to see action in the league are those whose 26th birthday does not predate the opening of the season.

For more information about the 25-and-under league, please call BANMI president Mike Muna at 664-3582, or league coordinators Abner Venus at 287-5911 and Elias Rangamar at 664-2503.

SML teams told to prepare for new season

The Saipan Major League Baseball Association is informing teams interested in joining the upcoming 2005 season to start preparations for the February opening.

Teams are advised to start securing sponsors immediately and not wait for February to arrive.

Teams are allowed to field rosters of not more than 25 players and must be finalized before opening day. Entrance fee is $1,200 and should be made payable under the name of the Saipan Major League.

Interested individuals or teams are asked to contact SML president Rose igitol at 288-5426, vice president Bob Coldeen at 235-KMCV, or league coordinator, Tony Rogolifoi at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium at 664-2508.

Experienced mountain-bikers needed

The Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation will be hosting a mountain bike race, followed by the ORAXTERE in March, and in order to get the road racers prepared for the rigors of an off-road race, they is planning to offer beginner courses in mountain bike operation within the week.

According to the race director of the NMITF Enticer Series, Sue Knecht, the only thing holding them back from offering “Extreme Riding 101” is the scheduling of volunteers for the course.

“We have a lot of nervous newbies going for either XTERRA or XTERRA Sport this year, and I want to help them out because I felt exactly the same way last year. We have not done any off-road Enticer stuff, so we are hoping for volunteers to help clear some trail section on Wireless Road next weekend,” said Knecht.

If you would like to volunteer, you will be asked to select the date, set the course, be the teacher, and contact Knecht with your intentions via email at sueknecht1@yahoo.com