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Basketball leagues set to start next two months
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Posted on Jan 23 2006
Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands official Abner Venus said that the next two months would see the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium abuzz with activity as two cage leagues are set to start.
Venus said the 2006 edition of the Budweiser Cup-BANMI Island-wide Basketball League is tentatively set to kick off in the first week of March with 10 teams expected to duke it out for bragging rights and the $1,000 championship purse.
He said aside from eight regular teams, BANMI is also looking at inviting the CNMI Men’s and Women’s National teams to compete in the Budweiser Cup.
“This would help both teams prepare themselves for the 2006 Micronesian Games. Budweiser Cup being a league sanctioned by BANMI, I think we should also do our part to make sure that we field the most prepared and best teams for the Games,” said Venus.
Entry fee for this year’s Budweiser Cup is $800 plus a $100 membership for BANMI.
By the time the Budweiser Cup starts, the 2006 Mobil Mariana Islands Invitational Co-ed Basketball League would already be in its second week, as Venus disclosed that the only co-ed basketball competition in the Commonwealth is set to start in the second week of February.
Venus said everything appears to be ready for the start of the Mobil cage league, as the uniforms of participating teams have already arrived and just awaiting pick-up.
Team participating in the sixth season of the Mobil Invitational include defending champion Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan (formerly Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach), Hyatt Regency Saipan, Microl Corp., Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Commonwealth Ports Authority, McDonald’s, host Mobil, and newcomer Saipan Ice & Water Co.
The Mobil crown was previously worn by THC (2001), Microl (2002), PDI (2003), and Aqua Resort Club (2004).
Venus also said the revival of the Hotel Basketball League is also being mulled and that he is inviting island hotels to call him as soon as possible so he could gauge the interest in the competition. He hopes to kick-off the Hotel Basketball League by mid-year.
For more information in the Budweiser Cup, Mobil Invitational, and Hotel Basketball League, call Venus at 888-3228.
