Local sports rejuvenated by new leagues

New leagues kicked off last week ensuring a busy schedule for CNMI sports enthusiasts in the remaining months of 2008.

The 2008 NMIFA Women’s Futsal Fall League kicked off with six teams and with more than 60 female strikers joining the inaugural league.

Teams 1, 4, and 5 won their debuts in the league which is being played at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium

The Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League also opened last week at the CIC Center Basketball Court drawing seven teams.

The list include Century Insurance, AON Insurance, C&R Distributors, Diamond Auto Care, MIGS, Olivos, and Pacific Trading Corporation.

Four teams played in the opening day with AON Insurance and MIGS beating Century Insurance and San Miguel-PTC, respectively. Powerhouse C&R Distributors debuted Thursday and downed Olivos/GEC, 103-96.

Another basketball league opened last week with the Filipino Community Church and Calvary International Mission holding the 3rd CIM-FCC Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Cup.

Isaiah-Mission Correction Ministry outclassed Ezekiel-Victorious Christian Church, 70-65, in the opening game Friday.

The two other teams competing in the league—Daniel and Joshua—will debut this weekend.

Two local sports officials were elected to lead their respective association.

Mike Borja was elected president of the Saipan Little League Baseball and is looking to buckle down to work as he wants to open the league early next year to accommodate more teams.

Like Borja, Dandan Elementary School principal Jonas Barcinas is expected to have his hands full in the next few weeks after being named commissioner of the 2008 NMIFA/PSS U12 Interscholastic Football League.

The U12 league was supposed to open Wednesday, but strong rain caused its postponement. Barcinas and the rest of PSS coaches and NMIFA officials are hoping to start the league this Wednesday.

Local sports community showed its hospitality to off-island visitors last week.

The Northern Marianas Badminton Federation and CNMI sports supporter Jerry Tan hosted a farewell party for Oceania Badminton Confederation regional development manager Tony Mardaunt.

Mardaunt left the island last week after an 11-day visit and had good words for NMBF saying its passion to the sport will bring results in the future.

Another Saipan visitor—AFC instructor Jose Ariston Padre Caslib of the Philippines—left the island last week after spending a good time with NMIFA and PSS coaches.

Caslib was on island for nine days to conduct an introductory coaching course.

Over on Tinian, the Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association hosted 11 Japanese players through the Large Ball Ping-Pong Tournament.

Japanese players, led by Asian Games gold medalist Hiroyuki Abe, dominated the ping-pong tournament placing first and third in the team competition.

MATTA also held the 10th Marianas Friendship Cup at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino with Tinian winning both the singles and doubles events.

Ongoing leagues on Saipan went ahead as scheduled last week with two teams showing domination over their foes.

The CNMI Junior Nationals defeated the San Antonio Sixers, 89-74, to claim the pennant in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.

The Junior Nationals swept the regular season of the 18-and-under caging posting an 8-0 record.

Acme Roofing is also perfect, recording a 5-0 mark in the ongoing 2008 Miller Lite Four-Person Beach Volleyball League at the Pacific Islands Club sand court. Acme Roofing is the lone undefeated squad in the 11-team field.