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Saipan hosts visiting athletes
The island’s hospitality was in full display last week, as two sports federations and one football club hosted visiting athletes.
The Saipan Swim Club hosted Palau, Guam, and Marshall Islands swimmers who competed in the two-day SSC International Invitational Tournament and the 36th Annual SSC Ocean Swim. About 150 swimmers participated in the swim meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool and half of them were off-island.
Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands also played host to four off-island basketball teams when it held the 2014 Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. BANMI hosted the girls and boys teams of Guam’s Notre Dame Royals and squads from Japan’s Settsu Red Impulse. The four visiting teams played against the MISO All-Stars and Marianas High School.
Another Japanese group arrived on Saipan last week and this time the Vivid Blue FC played in the MP United FC-hosted Pacific Ocean Cup 4 at the Koblerville Elementary Scholl Field. Shirley’s FC and Tinian Premier FC also fielded one team each in the weekend tournament.
Meanwhile, regular leagues and tournaments on Saipan continued last week.
In basketball, the MDX caging completed its playoff cast with IT&E and San Antonio notching automatic semis berths and the Pelicans TBK Mechanic, Docomo Pacific, and Gwap Gang bagging seats in the first round of the playoffs. Four teams were eliminated.
In Little League, the Enforcers handed the erstwhile unbeaten Red Sox back-to-back losses in the Senior League, while the Comets also snapped the Enforcers winning run in the Junior League. In the Major division, the Falcons absorbed their first loss at the hands of the Braves.
In badminton, champions were crowned at the conclusion of the Sun Palace Singles and Doubles Competition 2014, while in football, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association kicked off its 11 v 11 women’s league with Independents FC, MP United, and Kanoa FC winning their opening games.
