Senate honors Abner Venus

The family of former Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands president Abner Venus poses with Senate members, led by Senate president Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), during the presentation of a commemorative resolution recognizing his enormous contributions to the sport of basketball last Friday at the Senate chamber.(MARK RABAGO)

Former Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands president Abner Venus last Friday was posthumously honored with a Senate resolution recognizing his enormous contributions to the sport.

“The 23rd Legislature joins the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in extending acknowledgment and commendation to Abner Fernando Venus and his steadfast efforts to enhance the well-being of the Commonwealth and its people,” read the Senate resolution signed by Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero (D-Saipan) and Senate legislative secretary Sen. Celisna Babauta (D-Saipan).

The resolution said Venus served in various capacities in his many years of service within the Commonwealth community including working as a physical education teacher at Mount Carmel School; within the purchasing department of Hakubotan Duty Free, Saipan; a manager with Microl Wine and Spirits; with Microl Toyota where he served in the capacities of Rent-a-Car manager, Body Shop and Service Department manager, and a salesperson; and with the Division of Youth Services as a community outreach technician.

Venus also unselfishly spent his free time in numerous government and community-related activities including serving as president of the Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands. He also was a FIBA Oceania-certified referee (level 1), a FIBA-certified statistician (level 1), a FIBA-certified coach (level 1), and was also the president of the BANMI Referees Association. 

The Iloilo, Philippines native also was a coordinator of the DYS Summer Youth Camp from 2012-2014 and served as organizer of the 2006 Micronesian Games basketball competition.

Ray Lizama, who worked with Venus to form a masters basketball federation in the 1990s, considers Venus one of the prime movers of basketball in the CNMI.

“When we first started the masters, I threw that proposition to Abner to join me to form the masters federation and he didn’t even hesitate. So he’s been a part of the basketball community for the longest time… Thank you, Senate President Edith and the members of the Senate for recognizing a very close and dear friend of mine. I consider him my right man for all the years that we’ve been running the association, the masters federation. Thank you very much for this honor for a good friend of ours who we lost recently.”

Former BANMI president and NMSA Hall of Famer Elias Rangamar, for his part, said the posthumous honor is well deserved.

“Like what Ray echoed, Abner was instrumental in improving the sport of basketball. Our leagues were at their peak when we were all running the leagues in the ’90s and 2000s. Even though when he was sick he was still sharing to me that he feels bad he couldn’t help with the sport like he used to. We’re going to really miss him.”

Venus’ son, Marc, thanked the Senate on behalf of the entire family for the commemorative resolution they bestowed to his father.

“We just want to, first and foremost, thank the Senate president for introducing this resolution and the rest of the Senate for passing it. We also like to send our special thanks to coach Eli and Ray for making this possible and also to all of the colleagues of my dad throughout his life and basketball. Also, we just want to spread our thanks to everyone who shared their condolences and their respects to me and my family throughout this difficult time.”

The younger Venus used to join his father in officiating games.

“If it wasn’t for him, and his efforts of improving the sport of basketball throughout his life, I wouldn’t have been involved as well.  My goal is to try to get back into it over time and continue his goal of improving the sport for the children,” he said.

Venus, who died of complications from diabetes last April 17, is survived by his wife, Cristy, and children Ruby Ann, Julcristener A. Venus, Marc Christian, and James Michael.