Chelsea coaches, CNMI sluggers in spotlight

The best-of-five championship series in the Saipan Major League and the clinics conducted by officials from Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) were among the crowd drawing events on Saipan last week.

Baseball fans trooped to the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield and witnessed the St. Michael Angels move a win away from wrapping up the short title showdown against the Tan Holdings Brewers after posting back-to-back wins.

The Brewers drew first blood winning Game 1 on Monday night, 9-4, but lost momentum when the Angles took Games 2, 13-4, and 3, 9-7. Game 4 will be played tonight and the Brewers are in a must win situation to force a deciding Game 5 on Wednesday.

Over at the Oleai Sports Complex Field, three officials from Chelsea FC Soccer School (Hong Kong) conducted clinics for U15, U18, men’s and women’s players, and coaches of various football clubs on Saipan.

Lending their expertise to the CNMI were former Hong Kong football star Leslie George Santos, head coach Kwon On “David” Tsui, and technical director Luam Khen Koo.

Other notable events last week were the 10th Annual HANMI Charity Golf Classic Tournament, Mt. Tapochau Bike Club’s Lung Buster Bike Race, the opening of the 2011 IT&E Singles/Doubles Badminton Tournament, recognition ceremony for the 2010-2011 season of Tsunami Saipan at the Public School System’s elementary division slow-pitch softball championship.

Jason Yi topped the Championship Flight of the HANMI Cup, while other champions were A Flight’s J.J. Atalig , B’s John Cepeda , C’s Suk Joo Park, Seniors’ Judge Edward Manibusan, and Ladies’ Leina Kim.

In the Lung Buster Race, Butch Sublemente ruled the long course, while Gary Bandoja and Charlie Sendin tied for first in the short one.

In the IT&E badminton tournament, more than 100 players joined the competition, while Koblerville and Kagman elementary schools reigned in the girls and boys divisions of the softball finals.

Other on-going leagues on Saipan continued with the Miller Lite and Blue Haus cagings having their games at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court and the QQ Cup playing their regular season matches at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Over at the Capital Hill Ballfield, the Chamolinian softball league started its playoff round.