CNMI cage teams take center stage

Sports enthusiasts were treated to various local tournaments last week, but still craved for results from an off-island event—the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament—as the CNMI played in the regional caging for the first time.

The CNMI sent two teams in the tournament being held at the University of Guam Fieldhouse in Mangilao. The FIBA caging featured teams from the host, Tahiti, Palau, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and tournament favorite Australia.

The CNMI Junior Nationals who are coached by Rufino Aguon were grouped in Pool B along with the host, New Caledonia, and PNG.

The CNMI cagers dropped their debut against Guam, 102-61, but made the Commonwealth proud when they recorded their first victory in the tournament via a 93-84 triumph over PNG.

The Junior Nationals finished the pool play with 1-2 record after being outgunned by New Caledonia in the third game, 131-92.

Aguon’s wards made it into the quarterfinals, but lost to Tahiti, 97-74.

Despite failing to bring the Junior Nationals to the next round, Jericho Cruz made good account of himself in the FIBA caging, as he emerged as the top scorer in the pool play, collecting 69 points for an average of 23 points per game.

The CNMI cagebelles failed to secure a win in Pool A, losing to Tahiti, Fiji, and Australia. The CNMI bets were pitted against Guam in the quarterfinals and lost, too.

Back in local action, Chris “No Luv” Layug posted his third win in four fights after beating Derrick “Pinchi” Rangamar by unanimous decision in the main event of the Rites of Passage V: Raging Warriors.

Seventeen other bouts were featured in the Raging Warriors, with late replacement Andrew Sablan making the biggest upset of the night, knocking out Martin “Tom Cat” Castro.

Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel had been a participant in the past two stagings of the Annual Banzai Memorial Half Marathon and Fun Run at the Banzai Cliff in Marpi, but won only this year.

Kabiriel finished the 19-mile race in one hour, 31.50 seconds, his new personal best. But his mark way behind the current record of 1:18.10 set by Eli Torgeson last year.

In the women’s division, Oshima-Berger triumphed for the third straight time, setting a new record of 1:35.27.

Other top winners in the event were Matt Mancao and Mieko Carey, who ruled the Fun Run, clocking 26:10 and 29:48, respectively.

Jess Wabol may not be the fastest golfer to finish the 18-hole game at the LaoLao Bay Golf Resort, but he recorded the lowest gross score to prevail in Championship Flight of the 3rd Annual Kristo Rai Parish Golf Tournament.

Wabol fired a 3-under par 69 to win by three strokes over runner-up Rick Kautz, who posted an even par 72. Joji Taguchi came in third with his 3-over par 75.

Participants in the 2nd International PIC/Monster Point Break Open at the Pacific Islands flowrider facility in San Antonio needed more than speed, as they also had to show poise and creativity to get the judges’ nod.

In the end, four riders stood out with their flashy moves through the machine-operated waves in the PIC facility.

The list included Andrew Johnson, who ruled the Grommets division, Gerald Domingo (men’s Open), Park Hwa Young (women’s Open), and Hayato Nogami (12-17 age group).

Riders who participated in the PIC event came all the way from Japan and Korea.

Saipan had another visitor last week in Oceania Badminton Confederation regional development manager Tony Mordaunt, who will have an 11-day visit to conduct coaching clinic and tour several schools to share his skills and knowledge of the game.

The rest of the games in regular tournaments on Saipan went ahead as set with the Coalition of Private Schools having their high school and middle school volleyball, Rotary holding the 18-and-under caging, and PIC and Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association continuing the 4-person beach volleyball games.