No refs, just hoops at 3-on-3 Street Jam

The music bumped and people cheered as an overwhelming crowd of 136 hip hoopsters showed up to the Marianas High School Gymnasium on Saturday for the 2nd Annual 3-on-3 Street Basketball Jam, and the heat from the non-stop half-court action nearly melted the rubberized blue surface by the end of the day.

Referees were not necessary as a total of 39 teams relied on the rules of the street during the round-robin play to vie for a chance at advancing to the championship round next weekend, but the turnout was pleasantly more than what the organizers had anticipated.

“Last year we started this and there weren’t too many people, but this time it looks good—it’s outstanding. It looks like we will be playing well past 5pm, and we were done by noon last year,” said Department of Public Health director Pete Untalan.

After seeing the enthusiasm for the wall-to-wall activity, Untalan said that there is no question that the event will return for a third year. The director also credited other organizations for their participation.

“I like this, this is good. This is the whole purpose of getting this together. All our efforts is really to bring the kids out and to have an event for them rather than just have an event for the adults The nice thing about it is that it’s not just the DPH, but also working with Elias’ [Rangamar] group, BANMI, we’re working together to bring this tournament back,” he said

Of the nearly 40 teams, 18 came from the 18-and-under teams, 16 from the 14-and-under division, and five were from the girls’ 18-and-under teams. Unlike last year’s championship round in which all teams advanced for a title shot, only the crème de la crème moved on to next weekend’s action.

“Only the top eight teams from the boys division will go into the finals so it’s competitive. In the 18-and-under there are 18 teams, so 10 of them are out,” said Carol Paez, DPH Community Health Nurse coordinator and overseer of the full-time adolescent clinic on campus at MHS.

While the DJ was pulling double duty spinning the hits announcing the action on all four courts, Tinian I, Karahu, Eat It, Ballerz, Mix Breed, San Antonio I, San Antonio II, and Dynasty advanced to the top of the 18-and-under list, while Dribblers 2, Hopwood, Saipan Heats, Southside, Fantastic Five, Shooting Stars, G-Riders, and Tinian earned a bid in the 14-and-under division. On the girls side all five of the teams got invitations to the dance as Taya Fear, CNMI Ballers, Stormin’ Mormons, Ol’ Aces, and Bonitas will compete for the title of top team.

They weren’t the only ladies on the court, as 10-year-old Roxanne Dueñas was holding her own as the only girl running the floor with the boys on the San Antonio II squad.

The action continues this weekend as the Top 21 run and gun on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Civic Center Court. For more information about the finals, contact Paez by calling 664-3806, or Roxanne Diaz at 236-8703.