Masters caging eyes Aug. 20 start

The Masters Basketball League is planning a revival of sorts with the new set of organizers hoping to jumpstart the 35-and-over competition as early as Aug. 20.

In an interview last week with Arnold Mesa, the longtime basketball supporter and BANMI referee said his group was given the blessing by NMASA Hall of Famer Tony Rogolifoi to take over the reins of the MBL.

He said with Rogolifoi’s acquiescence, the 2008 edition of the MBL will incorporate a new format where each participating team is allowed to only recruit five players aged 35 years old.

Mesa said participating teams can round out their respective rosters by filling the seven remaining roster spots with players in the 40, 45, 50, and even 55 age bracket.

He said this new format would give the league parity since the relatively younger MBL players would no longer be concentrated into two or three teams.

Mesa said eligible players are those who are already 35 years old as of Aug. 20. Those who turn 35 on Aug. 21 or later would have to wait for next year to take part in the masters competition.

He added that interested teams should turn in their rosters, with players’ proof of age, before the tentative Aug. 20 kickoff date.

The 2008 MBL is being organized, according to Mesa, to allow the CNMI to take part in the 2009 Masters Olympics set for next year in Australia.

He said there are also plans to send a MBL selection to a goodwill masters basketball tournament in neighboring Guam set this coming October and November.

Entrance fee for the 2008 MBL is $500 per team or $25 per player. While teams are required to sport uniforms, T-shirts or tops of the same color will do.

Aside from Mesa, other members of the new MBL organizing committee are BANMI secretary general Michael White, CNMI Men’s National Team coach Rufino Aguon, Tony Sablan, Ed Manalili, Abner Venus, and Dave Demapan.

Rogolifoi is also part of the organizing committee but only as an adviser as the all-time baseball and basketball great serves as the commissioner of the Saipan Major League.

He currently is running the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League and will also organize the 2008 SML Fall League and the 2008 Masters Baseball League soon.

For more information about the 2008 MBL, call Mesa at 868-6578.