The Sports Leigh-Out April 25-May 1

Hafa Adai yan Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases bringing you Marianas Press’ weekly wrap up—the Sports Leigh-Out for the week of April 25-May 1.

Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, pools, or the beautiful ocean.

2025 APEC Women’s/U18 Boys Basketball League tips off

More basketball is underway as the 2025 APEC Women’s/U18 Boys Basketball League tipped off with 13 teams at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last April 19.

The league is being held in collaboration with the Northern Marianas Basketball Federation and APEC.

With the four games that were played on their opening day, Air Ballers won over Hericanes, 47-35, and Prime beat MP Raiders, 43-31 in the women’s division. In the U18 division, Rollers 1were victorious over Hardteye Raiders, while Kagman defeated Rollers 4, 42-30.

The U18 division boasts eight teams—Hardteye Raiders, Rollers 1, Rollers, 2, Rollers 3, Rollers 4, Madflex 1, Madflex 2, and Kagman. The women’s division consists of five teams—Hericanes, Air Ballers, MP Raiders, Beach Front Ballers, and Prime.

The opening ceremony had a colorful parade of teams, a drawing for the games that day, and remarks by NMIBF members.

2nd Gio’s Cup Pickleball Tourney underway

The 2nd Annual Gio’s Cup Pickleball Tournament has been underway at the American Memorial Park Tennis Court no. 4 since Friday, April 23.

The tournament wrapped up its first week of matches from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 27with champions emerging in their respective divisions. The divisions include men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles from rankings 2.0+, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0+; and singles open division. The tournament will kick back up again on Friday, May 2, to Sunday, May 4.

In the women’s doubles 4.0+ division, Marivic Dunlop and Mihoko Suzuki came out on top. Second place were Joan Henzon and Chelsea Henzon. In the men’s doubles, Hui Luo and Levi Omampo were champions, while second place went to Enoch Lim and Joe Quitugua. Melvin Galapon and Wendell Delos Santos teamed up to take the men’s doubles 3.0 title, and second place were Cyril Domingo and Carlo Domingo.

Levi Omampo and Leah Omampo owned the mixed doubles 3.5, while second place went to Fel and Jane. Jorge and Jocelyn won the mixed doubles 3.0, while second place were Wendell Delos Santos and Jyll Salas; Rizalina Liwag and Lea Verzon claimed the women’s doubles 2.0+, with Fatima Pascual and Becky Bailey settling for second place.

Richard Asuncion and Chelsea Henzon are champions in the mixed doubles 4.0+, as Eric Abragan and Suzuki claimed second place; and L.J. Libut and Ivy Grecia won the women’s doubles 3.0+, while second place went to Jorgena Lopez and Rica Sacramento.

The tourney is hosted by the 670 Saipan Pickleball Group and is coordinated by Ellaizah Gail Manalang.

Munnis, King-Hinds tops 4th CHCC Happy Hearts 5K

Out of over 100 participants in the 4th Annual Run Saipan/CHCC Happy Hearts 5K Fun Run and Walk on a festive Friday afternoon, United Airlines pilot James Munnis and U.S. Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds were the fastest in their respective divisions.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said that they do not have recorded times for this race because their timing system went down and did not have a back-up timer.

However, the placement for the men’s women’s and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. staff are below:

• First place in the men’s division was Munnis, second place was Matthew Furan, and third place was Edmundo Bato.

• First place in the women’s division was King-Hinds, second place was An Bang, and third place Rosemarie Chisato.

Out of over 25 CHCC staff, the Top 3 men were Jomer Enriquez, Kurt Songsong, and Felix Cabrera. The Top 3 CHCC women were Jennifer Retsinas, Maggy Moussalem, and Aileen Benavente.

HMS girls varsity is undefeated heading into playoffs

The Hopwood Middle School varsity basketball team is undefeated with six wins heading into the playoffs of the IT&E Interscholastic Girls Middle School Basketball League 2024-2025.

They won all of their regular season games, with a final win last April 28 against Dandan Middle School, 28-18, at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

On Thursday, May 1, the championship tourney began with eight teams including the lasses from Tinian Jr. High School. In the games yesterday, HMS continued their winning streak with a win over Tinian.

Today, Friday, May 2, is the continuation of the tourney, with the championship rounds set for tomorrow, May 3.

Pickleball clinic held in Rota

A group of pickleball players from Saipan held friendly games/demonstration on Rota last April 30 at the NMC Rota Center Marching Pad.

Also last April 28, NMC Crees invited pickleball players for matches at their HAFA Health Class.