{"id":389109,"date":"2023-04-10T06:04:35","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T20:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=389109"},"modified":"2023-04-10T06:04:35","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T20:04:35","slug":"former-national-cager-poland-yamada-passes-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/former-national-cager-poland-yamada-passes-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Former national cager Poland Yamada passes away"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>
The late Poland Yamada, left, waits for his flight to Noumea, New Caledonia, site of the 1987 South Pacific Games. To his right is Guam tennis player Vic April. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former national basketball player and famed wood carver Poland Yamada passed away last April 4 from cancer in his native Palau. He was 67 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 6-foot Yamada represented the CNMI in basketball in the 1987 South Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia and was part of the champion team Hawks in leagues organized by the old Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also suited up in various baseball, softball, and volleyball leagues on island and was an accomplished woodcarver and for years sculpted the ornate storyboards given to Hall of Fame inductees of the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association, the precursor of the NMSA.<\/p>\n

Yamada, who would\u2019ve turned 68 years old this coming Oct. 15, is survived by his wife Maryann Naputi and children Bo Milong, Jose Mista, Rosemary \u201cRose\u201d Komtilde, and four grandchildren\u2014Kaden,\u00a0 Tuid, Tianna Esuroi, and Niko Lluul.<\/p>\n

Daily mass for the eternal repose of Yamada\u2019s soul is being held at Santa Soledad Church until Wednesday. He will be buried in Palau.\u00a0
\n

<\/a>
After retiring from IT&E, Poland Yamada, second from left, did carvings as a hobby, but mostly enjoyed having a cold beer while watching softball games or the company of his grandchildren. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Yamada\u2019s daughter, Rose, said the longtime IT&E employee had been fighting stage 3 liver cancer since October of last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy family wanted to seek another specialist for his medical needs besides the cancer. That is when he and my mother flew to Palau in February to try and get a referral to Taiwan,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Yamada was born in Kayangel, a tiny island 15 miles north of Koror, and moved to Saipan permanently in 1986 where he worked for MTC,Verizon, and PTI\u2014all former names of IT&E.<\/p>\n

Yamada\u2019s coach in the Hawks team, Sonny Flores, said his former ward was a great leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had him in my last Hawks team. I was surprised to hear him say that it was his first time as champion in the BANMI league. He was the best center during his time. He was more of a slicer as he always drove inside with speed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His teammate in the 1987 South Pacific Games team, Elias Rangamar, said Yamada was one of the quickest center\/forwards he ever played with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I played against him in the men\u2019s league, he picked my pocket like three in a row. Never experienced that ever. He was also a great shot blocker. We will miss him surely. Had great rivalries when he played for coach Sonny Flores in the Hawks. They won several titles with him as the catalyst in the bottom,\u201d said the NMSA Hall of Famer<\/p>\n

Tony Rogolifoi also has fond memories of playing against the tall but lightning-quick slotman.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Poland Yamada for the first time I believe, in the early or mid-\u201980s at a basketball game in Chalan Kanoa at the WSR outdoor court. He played for Eli Rangamar\u2019s PeaceMakers team while I was a coach\/player representing Team Kanaka. That\u2019s when I witnessed the tall and slender Poland\u2019s basketball skills. His execution on the court, particularly on defense, was just amazing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rogolifoi, who like Rangamar is a Hall of Famer, said few players on Saipan had that kind of skill before Yamada\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cUtilizing his 6\u20190\u201d frame, his jumping ability and his quickness in the paint defensively, he would wreak havoc on opposing teams, slapping away multiple attempts at the basket with his long arms and high vertical jump. Offensively, I would consider Poland a deadly force under the basket as he is also capable of dunking as well.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yamada and Rogolifoi eventually would become teammates in the aforementioned 1987 CNMI team in the South Pacific Games in Noumea.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played much taller players from the bigger islands in the South Pacific but we did well thanks to Poland\u2019s rebounding skills. I am proud to compete alongside him. He continued to play in the local leagues, both basketball and softball, before retiring. We just lost an outstanding athlete who has accomplished and contributed a lot in terms of sports in the CNMI.\u00a0 We were good friends and I will surely miss him.\u00a0 He is a humble, respectful person, with a sense of humor that will not be forgotten. Farewell my friend and may you rest in peace!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Former national hoops coach Rufino Aguon, another Hall of Famer, said while a fierce competitor inside the court, Yamada was a funnyman off it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of great memories. It\u2019s really hard to pinpoint one but I will always remember him as a very tenacious competitor both on and off the court. On the court he lets his actions speak for him, but off court he would challenge us to go all out.\u00a0 But afterward he is humble and a comedian,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many time NMSA Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame inductee, and national tennis coach Jeff Race said many don\u2019t know but he actually was teammates with Yamada in a basketball team in the early \u201990s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPoland and I met over 30 years ago. We played on the same team in a basketball league way back then. He even briefly worked at my wife\u2019s business. But Poland loved sports and he loved his family. He also loved his home island of Kayangel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Race added he got to know Yamada more personally with his dealings with him as a longtime NMSA board member.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoland was a master woodcarver and for most of the last 20 years Poland supported the sports community by making trophies in the form of storyboards for inductees into the NMI Sports Hall of Fame. That always gave me a good reason to head over to Poland\u2019s house a couple of times a year to work with him on getting the trophies made. It wasn\u2019t really a business relationship, although he could do a little of that. But usually we spent a long while just hanging out catching up on each other\u2019s lives, families, and just telling a few stories or reminiscing. He followed local baseball, basketball, and would even follow the exploits of our local kids in tennis. I had a great affection for Poland and he for me. It is with great sadness that I mourn the passing of my long time friend, Poland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Former Division of Sports and Recreation director NMSA president, Saipan Swim Club co-founder, and NMSA Hall of Famer Bill Sakovich said Yamada\u2019s passing is a great loss for the CNMI\u2019s sports community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPoland was a great athlete, helping the many teams he participated on and was willing to help me as necessary.\u00a0 On my side he was a true athlete and great guy. For awhile he was making the beautiful storyboard trophies for NMASA and other activities and for me personally as gifts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In retirement, Yamada continued to keep abreast with local sports happening, according to his daughter Rose.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he retired from IT&E he did carvings as a hobby. But mostly he enjoyed having a cold beer watching softball games or the company of his grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite all his athletic accomplishments, Rose said she always admired him most for his love and devotion to his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being the best dad a girl could ask for. Teaching me the easy ways of life and witnessing the love he had for his kids and how they know grandpa will always be there for us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She then thanked everyone for the outpouring of support her family received following her dad\u2019s passing last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe love and prayers my family have received these past days is incredible. My father was a very wise, humble, and simple kind of guy that anyone can get along with. So we greatly appreciate everyone reaching out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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