Budweiser caging to uncork Dec. 10

The 2008-2009 Budweiser Basketball League will uncork next month with seven teams already signifying their participation in the premiere basketball competition on Saipan.

According to Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands director and Budweiser caging coordinator Abner Venus, the league will have a kick-off date of Dec. 10.

He said defending champion Rock Steady, Junior Nationals, Ol’Aces I and II, Jesse Tudela’s Sonics, Ray Duenas’ Sixers, and Arnold Mesa’s Master All-Star Selection are the teams that have signed up for the competition.

Venus hopes to add more teams from the current seven-team field by attracting from other leagues, especially champions of those competitions.

“We would like to invite the Inter-Government/Business League champions PTI, Tinian Dynasty Team, and other teams to enter in this year’s Budweiser Basketball League. We would also like to send an invitation to those teams who were crowned champions from the other outside leagues. If you think that you are a real champion team come and join the Budweiser Basketball League and prove to us that you deserve to be called champions,” he said.

Venus said that BANMI is also planning to use the Budweiser Basketball League as a training ground for the FIBA Oceania Championship, which the CNMI is hosting on June 2009. BANMI is a member of FIBA Oceania.

“This is a challenge to all those teams that believe that they are good. Come and join the Budweiser Basketball League and show us that you can play the real game of basketball,” added Venus.

Formerly known as Bud Cup, the Budweiser Basketball League is cognizant of the fact that money is tight right now and that’s why, according to Venus, the entrance fee has been dropped from $800 to $500.

Venus added that BANMI is also implementing the $5 membership fee for each player, which is exclusive of the team entrance fee.

Participating teams will have to abide to FIBA rules and can only field a 12-player lineup in the Budweiser Basketball League.

Aside from the Budweiser caging, BANMI will also be hosting a 3-on-3 tournament on Dec. 6 and 7 and Venus promised that a ton of prizes and giveaways will be given to the top teams.

For more inquiries about the Budweiser Basketball League, Abner Venus at 234-5911 or Elias Rangamar at 664-2502.

Rock Steady defeated the Saipan Stevedore Suns, 92-78, in the Bud Cup finals last February at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The win completed the team’s back-to-back title bid. Rock Steady is composed mostly of players from the CNMI Men’s National Team that competed in the 6th Micronesian Games, which Saipan hosted in 2006.

Fred Pelisamen and the rest of the Rock Steady team won the 2007 edition of