Fiesta Resort all set to defend title

Defending champion Fiesta Resort & Spa did not simply sat on its laurels during the off-season, seemingly content with the title it won in the 2005 edition of the Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League.

In fact, the former Dai-ichi Hotel Saipan Beach has even reloaded, having welcomed a couple of additions from sister hotel Saipan Grand Hotel as well as recruited another hotshot cage belle from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Immediately taking their place in Fiesta’s starting frontline are center Cris Adams and power forward William Opone. Both players work in the F&B department of Grand Hotel and as observed during the team’s recent practice, will take some of the pressure off Fiesta’s veteran big men Roland Galag and Tom Alegre.

Taking the place of 2005 women’s MVP Noe Okahira is 5’1” spitfire Mariko Okasaki, who Alegre describes as having Okahira’s offensive moves if not better.

Expected to compete Fiesta’s starting five along with Adams, Opone, and Okasaki are Alegre and last year’s MVP for the men, Elmer Esdrelon.

Completing the Fiesta cast are Galag, Adonis Macoto, Ferdie Tobias, Jessie Nicdao, Ariel Jinang, Jhun Alipala, Shan Seman, Ed Cho, Philip Douglas, and Lakay Carino.

Alegre, who serves as the team’s playing coach, said Fiesta will try its best to again win the championship. He, however, noted that history will be against them, since no team has won back-to-back titles much less two championships in the six-year-old league.

He said Fiesta will probably get the stiffest challenge from 2004 champion Aqua Resort Club, 2002 titlist Microl-Toyota, and host Mobil Oil.

Aqua Resort will be fielding a tall and quick team built around frontline aces Dalewin Cortez, Darwin Borja, and Eric Dalangin and backcourt gems Cris Domingo, Ziddy Johannes, and Rodel Alcantara.

Microl-Toyota, meanwhile, has loaded up on long and athletic players like Jolan Mendoza, Edmark Mendoza, Marlon De Dios, and Elbyn Cecilia to complement 2002 MVP Jorge De Guzman and veteran gunner Rodney Catalla.

Mobil, for its part, reportedly has brought in reinforcements Ronald Delos Reyes, Errol Peredo, Rowell Aranda, Andres Estolas, Junar Guiab, and John Artates to boost its title chances.

Aside from Fiesta, Mobil, Microl, and Aqua Resort, this year’s competition would also include Hyatt Regency Saipan, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Commonwealth Ports Authority, McDonald’s, and newcomer Saipan Ice & Water Co.

Fiesta doesn’t have to wait for long to find whether or not its off-season moves will pay off as the team kicks off its 2006 title-retention bid at 6:30pm today. Its opponent will be drawn and the protagonists for the second game starting at 8pm, or 10 minutes after the first game, will also be picked in the same manner.