Micronesian Baseball Classic gets donation from TSL Foundation

Members of the Micronesian Baseball Classic’s Organizing Committee and Tan Siu Lin Foundation officials show the shirts donated by the latter during the donation turnover ceremony yesterday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Contributed Photo)

Organizers of the Inaugural Micronesian Baseball Classic received in-kind donation worth $20,000 from Tan Siu Lin Foundation yesterday.

Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan and TSL Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino turned in 2,500 shirts to the MBC Organizing Committee led by Saipan Baseball League president Rose Igitol in a brief ceremony at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

“We would like to thank Jerry Tan and the TSL Foundation for their generosity,” Igitol said in a press release.

“Baseball is one of the favorites sports in the CNMI and we at TSL Foundation would like to support events that encourage participation from our community and also promote sportsmanship and active lifestyle through sports. We wish all the teams good luck and we encourage our community to come down to the baseball field and watch the games,” Tolentino said.

MBC organizers and volunteers will sold the shirts and all proceeds from the sale (which is estimated at $20,000) will be used for the operational cost of the tournament that will feature teams from the CNMI, Palau, Kosrae, and Guam. The first edition of the quadrennial baseball competition will be held at the “Tan Ko” field from June 24 to July 1.

“The four confirmed squads are Palau, Guam, Kosrae, and of course the CNMI. We are still waiting for confirmation from Pohnpei and we will give them until next week to inform us if they are going or not,” tournament director Tony Rogolifoi said in a press release.

“We are encouraging the community and the baseball fans to go to the “Tan Ko” field to support, not only the CNMI, but all the participating teams. This is a preview of the baseball competition in the 2018 Micronesian Games,” Rogolifoi added.

Schedule of games in next month’s MBC has yet to be finalized, but Rogolifoi said they may hold two matches every day with the first one in the afternoon and the last in the evening.

Rogolifoi added that the 22 players suiting up for the CNMI will be chosen from the teams that are competing in the ongoing 2016 Saipan Baseball League.

“Selection will be based on stats, attitude of the players, and overall performance in the league. We will also select three members of the coaching staff, including the manager,” Rogolifoi said.