White hopes to send large delegation for 2011 Games

Unlike the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa, the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association hopes to send a large contingent to the 2011 edition of the quadrennial event in New Caledonia.

NMASA president Michael A. White in a email to the Saipan Tribune noted that the CNMI stands a good chance to better the five-team delegation it sent to Apia last year in the Noumea Games three years from now.

“Cost is always a factor. However, travel and per diem costs for the Noumea Games will be significantly less than they were for Samoa in 2007 or the Cook Islands next year, so I am hopeful that we will be able to send a large delegation to represent the CNMI,” he said.

In the 2007 Pacific Games in Apia, the CNMI sent five athletes-Tyrone Omar of athletics and beach volleyball players Mark McDonald, Tyce Mister, Nina Mosley, and Melissa Hallaby.

During the last Nov. 19 briefing made by NC2011 president Pascale Bastien-Thiry, NC2011 protocol director Helen Court Wabete, and Pacific Games Council secretary general David Boyd, White also said that the New Caledonia organizing committee may also help the CNMI out by enlisting its flag carrier, Air Caledonie, to arrange charter flights to the region.

The Commonwealth sports body's head also extended his thanks to Bastien-Thiry, Wabete, and Boyd for flying all to way to the North Pacific to discuss their plans for the 2011 Pacific Games not only with NMASA but also to the sports governing bodies of Guam and Palau as well.

“I was very pleased that officials of NC2011 took the time and expense of traveling all the way to the CNMI to brief us on preparations for the 2011 Pacific Games. New Caledonia has shown that it has the capability and will to put on a truly outstanding event,” he said.

NC2011 will organize 12 compulsory sports in the 2011 Games, namely athletics, weightlifting, swimming, basketball, table tennis, soccer, tennis, rugby, golf, vaa, volleyball, and badminton.

In addition, NC2011 will also host 18 optional sports that would be determined by the number of entries.

NC2011 expects all 22 countries of the Pacific Games Council to take part in the Games. It also looks forward to hosting 3,500 athletes-5,000 including officials-in three years time.

The organizing committee is also prepared to spend about $16 million for the hosting of the Games. That price tag does not include the construction of 38 venues and sporting facilities for the 15 days of competition.
(Saipan Tribune)

White hopes to send large delegation for 2011 Games

Unlike the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa, the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association hopes to send a large contingent to the 2011 edition of the quadrennial event in New Caledonia.

NMASA president Michael A. White in a email to the Saipan Tribune noted that the CNMI stands a good chance to better the five-team delegation it sent to Apia last year in the Noumea Games three years from now.

“Cost is always a factor. However, travel and per diem costs for the Noumea Games will be significantly less than they were for Samoa in 2007 or the Cook Islands next year, so I am hopeful that we will be able to send a large delegation to represent the CNMI,” he said.

In the 2007 Pacific Games in Apia, the CNMI sent five athletes-Tyrone Omar of athletics and beach volleyball players Mark McDonald, Tyce Mister, Nina Mosley, and Melissa Hallaby.

During the last Nov. 19 briefing made by NC2011 president Pascale Bastien-Thiry, NC2011 protocol director Helen Court Wabete, and Pacific Games Council secretary general David Boyd, White also said that the New Caledonia organizing committee may also help the CNMI out by enlisting its flag carrier, Air Caledonie, to arrange charter flights to the region.

The Commonwealth sports body's head also extended his thanks to Bastien-Thiry, Wabete, and Boyd for flying all to way to the North Pacific to discuss their plans for the 2011 Pacific Games not only with NMASA but also to the sports governing bodies of Guam and Palau as well.

“I was very pleased that officials of NC2011 took the time and expense of traveling all the way to the CNMI to brief us on preparations for the 2011 Pacific Games. New Caledonia has shown that it has the capability and will to put on a truly outstanding event,” he said.

NC2011 will organize 12 compulsory sports in the 2011 Games, namely athletics, weightlifting, swimming, basketball, table tennis, soccer, tennis, rugby, golf, vaa, volleyball, and badminton.

In addition, NC2011 will also host 18 optional sports that would be determined by the number of entries.

NC2011 expects all 22 countries of the Pacific Games Council to take part in the Games. It also looks forward to hosting 3,500 athletes-5,000 including officials-in three years time.

The organizing committee is also prepared to spend about $16 million for the hosting of the Games. That price tag does not include the construction of 38 venues and sporting facilities for the 15 days of competition.
(Saipan Tribune)

6 pairs unbeaten in IT&E badminton tilt

By Roselyn Monroyo
Saipan Tribune Reporter

Macoi Aguda, right, serves while teammate Saul Gargallo looks on during their game against Jerry Hibi and Eric Pena in the men's A division of the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo) The pair of Macoi Aguda and Saul Gargallo is among the six undefeated teams in the men's A division after two days of action in the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament held over the weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Aguda and Gargalo won their first two matches to take the lead in the men's A division. They debuted with a 21-7, 21-18 victory over Edwin Montoya and Gary Bandoja Saturday and improved to a 2-0 record after a 21-14, 19-21, 21-12 triumph over Jerry Hibi and Eric Pena Sunday.

In second place with a 2-1 record is the duo of Hapi Gabriel and Robert Reyes, who lost their opening game to Hibi and Pena, 19-21, 24-22, 19-21. On Day 2, Gabriel and Reyes swept their games, beating the tandem of Montoya and Bandoja, 21-14, 21-17, and the pair of Lito Mendoza and Joseph Santos, 21-17, 21-19.

Mendoza and Santos hold a 1-1 record after downing Montoya and Bandoja on Day 1 of the weekend tournament, 21-19, 21-18. The duo of Bandoja and Montoya is winless in three games.

In the men's B division, two pairs are undefeated with Mario Diola and Paul Navarro winning two games on Day 1 and Roger Vales and Efren Cacdac also notching a 2-0 slate.

Diola and Navarro prevailed over Alfred Acosta and Edwin Maratas, 21-11, 21-13, 21-18, and Daniel Macario and Jorge Olanda, 19-21, 21-16, 21-19. The tandem of Vales and Cacdac won over Emil De Belen and Rommel Villavisa, 21-19, 22-20, on Day 1, and against Andrew Galvez and Victor Reyes, 21-19, 12-31, 21-14, on Day 2.

In the women's B vision, the pair of Marylyn Montano and Cheng Saturno is unbeaten in two games after trouncing Ingrid Sanchez/Cristy Villaflor, 21-16, 21-15, and Lea Estinopo and Rose Lazaro, 21-10, 21-13.

Sanchez and Villaflor are in second place with a 2-1 slate after winning their first game over Estinopo and Lazaro, 21-12, 21-5, and third match against Shirley Kim and Angelie Ito, 21-14, 21-16.

Rodwealth Espana and James Digno are leading in the men's C division with a perfect 2-0 record following their victories over Puy Macario and Chris Hilario, 21-17, 21-17, and Ezekiel Macario and Roding Domingo, 21-17, 21-10. Puy and Hilario recovered from their opening game loss after winning two games Sunday against Frank Villagomez and Ric Brien, 21-18, 7-21, 21-15, and Ezekiel and Domingo, 21-11, 21-11.

Leading in the women's C division is the pair of Elna Curate and Merlie Tolentino, who whipped Malou Guzman and Malou Mendoza Saturday, 14-21, 21-16, 21-12, and Dorie Pena and Hazel Dela Santa Sunday, 21-17, 21-15.

In the other game in the women's C division, Annette Quiambao and Irene Santiago defeated Mendoza and Guzman, 21-17, 22-20.

Action in the IT&E tournament will continue this weekend. The men's A and men's and women's C divisions will have a double round-robin format, while the men's and women's B will be a single round robin affair. The Top 4 teams in each division will move to the crossover semifinals.

Northern Marianas host doubles tournament

Dubbed as the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament, the event will feature competitions in five divisions, namely the men's A, men's and women's B, and men's and women's C.

Slots on the tournament are limited so NMBF is encouraging interested participants to register before the event kicks off on March 28.

The men' A division is open only to five pairs, while the B division will have only eight teams each for the men's and women's. The women's C category will accept only four squads apiece for the women's and men's.

The men's A and men's and women's C divisions will have a double round-robin format, while the men's and women's B will be a single round robin affair. The Top 4 teams in each division will advance to the crossover semifinals with the No. 1 squad facing the No. 4 team for the first finals ticket. The No. 2 and 3 squads will duel for the other finals seat.

NMBF through president Shirley Kim expressed its appreciation for IT&E's support to the tournament.

“We are thankful to our avid sponsors, especially IT&E, for their generosity in helping us run this event. “We are looking forward to another successful and fun tournament through the cooperation of NMBF members and supporters,” Kim said.

Kim, along with NMBF vice president Edwin Montoya, treasurer Malou Mendoza, and board member Lito Mendoza, received a $800 check from IT&E yesterday in a brief donation ceremony at the telecommunication company's office in Susupe.

The donation, according to Rose Soledad, IT&E's regional controller for finance and accounting, shows the company's commitment in supporting various activities in the CNMI.

“Despite the crisis we are experiencing right now, IT&E is committed to help various organizations in the CNMI, such as the NMBF. We are committed in promoting sports, physical fitness, and camaraderie among members of the sports community,” Soledad said.

The doubles tournament will run until April 19 with games to be played every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. Matches every Friday and Saturday will run from 6pm to 10pm, while Sunday's games will start from 2pm until 8pm.

Tournament director Macoi Aguda said this is the first time that NMBF is holding an exclusive doubles tournament.

“Our tournaments in the past were team events with players teaming up with different partners. Now, players will have only one partner and they will have more focus and time to prepare for their matches, and this will make the competition pretty exciting,” Aguda said.

Beach Badminton Introduced!

(From OBC)
Corinne Barnard
Secretary General
Badminton Oceania)

BEACH BADMINTON LAUNCHED AT BADMINTON OCEANIA AGM

Badminton Oceania launched a new initiative at the Badminton Oceania Annual General Meeting on the weekend in Auckland, New Zealand. Beach Badminton.

The Oceania region is known for its lack of indoor facilities especially in the Pacific Islands. An initiative of the Oceania region to take Badminton outdoors and play Badminton on the Beach or in the Backyard was launched on Saturday evening.

Opening the ‘Beach Badminton’ launch held at Mission Bay, Auckland were, Robin Bryant, Vice President of Badminton World Federation and Nigel Skelt, Oceania President. Both men were keen to have a go and join the coaches from Tuvalu, Fiji, Vanuatu for a game of Beach Badminton. Other attendees were Oceania Executive members, Warren Yee (Fiji), Pule Risale (Samoa), Geraldine Brown (Australia) and General Manager from Badminton NZ, Mike Kernaghan.

The same size court as the indoor game, Beach Badminton is played with the same height net but with only one court boundary marker.

Tony Mordaunt, Regional Development Manager for Badminton Oceania will be developing the game into the pacific islands and is ideal for countries like fiji, samoa, tahiti, tuvalu and vanuatu. The only shortfall is the development of the shuttlecock especially on windy days. Badminton Oceania has asked the BWF to investigate a heavier shuttle that could be used for outdoor badminton. We will eagerly await the outcome.

Shirley's Coffee Shop Saipan Now Blogs....

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Members, Shirley's Coffee Shop Saipan now joins the intricate yet rewarding world of the the blogosphere! Do check the store's wonderful site and luscious and enticing food menu.

Congratulations Shirley's!!!!

(Photo taken from shirleyscoffeeshop.blogspot.com)

NMBF elects officers for 2009

The Northern Marianas Badminton Federation has a new president in Shirley Kim, who was elected to the group's highest post Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Kim got the most votes from about 40 NMBF members who participated in the 2009 election last week and will be replacing outgoing president Marconi Calindas.

Others elected were Edwin Montoya, vice president; Reynaldo Gabriel, secretary; Malou Mendoza, treasurer; Cristy Villaflor, auditor; and Marco Antonio Aguda and Jojo Savellano, public relations officers.

Kim thanked NMBF members for having confidence in her ability to lead the group and vow to continue what the organization's past leaders have started to promote badminton in the Commonwealth.

“It’s a great feeling. I am deeply honored and grateful that they showed full confidence in me. I felt that there’s no turning back to lead the group this year," Kim said.

“I will continue the past leaders' goal of strengthening the youth membership in the CNMI,” she said.

Kim added she will also continue to implement the “committee system,” in the organization to ensure that future tournaments and other projects are properly coordinated and attended.

"It has been proven very effective and we will maintain that setup for the year," Kim said. "I am also looking forward to more tournaments and training for members, students, and community groups," she said.

Out to help Kim manage the organization are 2009 Board of Directors members Lito Mendoza, Elma Labuson, Roger Vales, Gigi Zapanta, Jerry Tan, and Susan and Puy Macario. Mendoza will chair the NMBF Board for the second straight year.

With Kim at the helm of NMBF affairs this year, her first project will be an annual leadership training and planning workshop to be held before the end of the month. The group is also expected to hold board and management meetings this month.

Meanwhile, NMBF thanked the Division of Sports and Recreation for allowing them to use the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium to conduct regular games every Tuesday and Thursday morning and Friday and Saturday evening.
(Saipan Tribune)