Men’s national cage team needs $2K

CNMI Men’s National Basketball Team is looking for corporate sponsors willing to bankroll the approximately $2,000 it needs to participate in the 6th Micronesian Games set here on Saipan from June 22 to July 3.

Head coach Rufino Aguon said companies that sign up to be the team’s corporate sponsors will not only be giving money for a good cause but will also do themselves a favor by way of media exposure in the run-up as well as during the quadrennial event.

“They will have their names on the jerseys and their names and products mentioned in the media,” he said.

Aguon also said his boys will also be available to act as spokesmen for the companies and could endorse the products and services they offer. “If they want us to pose for their products [and services] we can do that too.”

He said the approximately $2,000 BANMI needs to raise for the men’s national team would be used to buy uniforms and other small items needed for the training and the actual basketball competition.

Aguon said plans are also afoot for BANMI to host a weekend tournament, which primary goal is to raise funds for both the men’s and women’s national basketball teams.

He said the tournament would invite the four top teams in the ongoing Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League and defending champion of the BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League, Ol’ Aces I.

The former executive of Continental Micronesia also said his boys may also play in the 2006 edition of the Men’s Island-wide cage league. “If all goes well, the team will be playing in the Bud Cup.”

Aside from men’s and women’s basketball, other sports proposed to be featured during the Games include athletics, baseball for men, beach volleyball, golf, fast pitch softball, slow pitch softball, spear fishing, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, outrigger canoeing, volleyball, wrestling for men, weightlifting, and Micronesian All-Around.

The Micronesian Games is expected to draw 1,500-1,700 athletes, coaches, and officials from around region. The event was last held on Saipan in 1990.

The state of Yap originally won the bid to host next year’s Games, however, it begged off citing that its facilities were devastated by typhoons over the past years. Subsequently, the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee awarded the Games to the CNMI and after a long standoff—which included the CNMI government initially backing out—the quadrennial event is finally here to stay.