The Sports Leigh-Out June 6-June 12, 2026

Hafa Adai and Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases with this week’s Sports Leigh-Out brought to you by Joeten Motors!

Recovery continues across the islands, and so does the spirit of local sports.

What Nai are Rota’s Bud Light champs

The undefeated What Nai team are Rota's BudLight Softball Co-ed champions after defeating Hagu Lamun in the finals on Saturday, June 6. Last year's BL champions, Un Guinaiya garnered a 3rd place win against Team Galuti, via forfeit. Meanwhile, Team Sakudi's pitcher Edward Kapileo earns the title of Homerun Derby King, with 7 home runs.

Break in reported at Ada Gym, police investigation underway

With the community still in recovery mode and with the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium still not in use for sports due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, an early morning break-in at the NMI Weightlifting Room at the gym in the Oleai Sports Complex is under investigation after an individual forced entry by throwing a rock through a glass window and climbing into the facility.

According to facility management, the incident happened around 3:25am on Tuesday, June 9.

MP’s Leigh Gases visited the site on Wednesday, June 10, and documented the damage, including video footage from the facility’s CCTV system.

Facilities manager Nathan Guerrero said: “It’s very unfortunate this happened at a time where everybody’s struggling. The sports facility is used to give the public access so they can come here, enjoy sports, get their minds off everything. It’s just a shame that something like this has to happen. This is not acceptable at any time—but especially at a time like this where we use this facilities a lot to host games for adults, the kids—everybody,” he said. “Stuff like this is always going to set us back because now we have to worry about repairing this, seeing if anything was taken—something that could’ve been used towards games for the community or our local athletes.”

After the break-in was discovered, management contacted the Department of Public Safety and filed a police report. They are also currently checking inventory to see if anything was taken.

Management is asking the public for help in identifying the person responsible. They hope sharing information about the incident will help raise awareness and prevent similar incidents.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Department of Public Safety or NMI Crime Stoppers at (670)234-7272.

Jenisha, Daniel top V1 finals

Jenisha Dubrall and Daniel Taitano powered their way to first-place finishes in the V1 500m sprints on Saturday, June 6, as paddlers returned to competition for just the second time since Super Typhoon Sinlaku disrupted the 2026 season.

It was a sunny, hot morning at Kilili Beach, with paddlers from all clubs back on the water for the first official V1 race of the season. The next race is scheduled for June 20.

In the women’s final, Dubrall of Saipan Paddling Club set the pace and never let go, finishing first in 2:55.30. Momoko Halstead came in second at 2:59.90, while Emma Chong rounded out the podium in 3:02.10.

On the men’s side, Taitano of Marianas Outrigger Club held off a close challenge from Tyler Andrew to claim gold in 2:22.70. Andrew finished right behind in 2:24.00, with Jason Tarkong taking third in 2:32.00.

After the race, Dubrall said the return to competition was an important milestone for the paddling community after weeks away from the water due to the typhoon.

With winning first place despite the time off, she said, “It feels really good. The time out of the water after the typhoon—I really felt it, but despite that, I think we are all going through some tough times, so we all did our best, and everyone did so good despite not being able to train as much as we usually do.”

On the conditions in the water, she said, “they were really great, thankfully. It wasn’t too rough—it was super high tide and the race went really good. There were a lot of first timers who really did not look like first timers out there, and everyone put up a great fight despite our absence in the water.”

For Taitano, he also welcomed the return to racing, saying he was just glad to be back on the water after the disruption caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. “It feels good. Glad to be back after Super Typhoon Sinlaku and I’m glad to see everyone here. Good to see everyone’s safe.”

Another 10K nat’l record for Tania

NMI track star Tania Tan rewrote another CNMI record, clocking a new 10K mark of 37:20 and placing fifth at the Brisbane Marathon Festival 10K on Sunday, June 7.

NMI women’s team wraps up stint in Guam

The NMI Women’s National Soccer Team just ended their campaign in the Women’s EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2026 in Guam with a 0-13 loss over Chinese Taipei on Sunday, June 7, at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The girls in blue began their campaign on Friday, June 5, but posted a 0-5 loss.

The team consisted of Mia Abuan, Christina Atalig, Joselynn Atalig, Hailey Benavente, Alyssa Borlongan, Jannah Casarino, Jerlyn Castillo, Aubrey Castro, Kaithlyn Chavez, Julie Chavez, Orica George, Bernadette Horey, Khristelle Itaas, Summer Manahane, Deseha Mendiola, Dianne Pablo, Sophia Quintos, Gabrielle Race, Rizza Relucio, and Aubrey White.

With the team were head of delegation Luam Khen Koo, head coach Chi Min Tang, assistant coach Ronnel Ocanada, goalkeeper coach Kwok Poon, team manager Janelle Pangilinan, assistant team manager Yu Hung Lee, team media officer Renedel Buno, and team doctor Allen Rara.

Two silvers for Song in blue belt debut at Marianas Pro Korea

CNMI's Ballen Song made a strong start to his blue belt career, winning two silver medals at the ASJJF International Marianas Pro Korea Jiu-Jitsu Competition on Saturday, June 6.

Competing in the lightweight 76kg division, Song entered both the adult no-gi and master gi categories and advanced to the finals of both divisions.

In the master gi division, Song defeated Song Hyun Seok of Team Roots Korea before losing on points to Bae Sung Hyeun of Ratel Yellow BJJ in the championship match.

In the adult no-gi division, Song reached the final against Seungin Lee, the current top-ranked competitor in Korea's adult division. Song nearly finished the match with a leg lock, but Lee fought through the submission attempt and went on to win.

The result came after six months of preparation, much of it during the recovery from Super Typhoon Sinlaku. "It wasn't easy post-Typhoon Sinlaku recovery due to lack of power, water, and access to food," Song said. "But I did what I could with what I had, and that includes all the support from friends and family such as providing a facility and showing up to be my training partners."

The tournament was Song's first competition at the blue belt level, where athletes can have anywhere from two to seven years of grappling experience and often come from backgrounds in judo, wrestling, or mixed martial arts. Song said he viewed himself as an underdog with just three years of experience.

Still, he said competition is what keeps him motivated. "I am a firm believer that anything valuable must be earned through proof of work, and it's no exception for self-confidence," he said. "Signing up for a competition is my way of burning the bridge. Now I have to meal prep for correct nutrition, I can't skip the gym just because I got tired from my 8-to-5, and when all that is done the real skill training actually begins. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, all I need to do is look back at the wall of 1,000 bricks I have laid," he said.

Song's next competition will be Marianas Pro's first Dumau event in Guam this June 20. After that, he plans to return to Saipan to continue training for the Marianas Pro Championship in October.

Training out of TrenchTech Saipan under professor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez, Song said his goal is to eventually compete at the highest levels of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and continue to represent the CNMI internationally.

NMA Open Track and Field Meet 2026 on June 18-19

Get ready to run, jump, and throw at the Northern Marianas Athletics Open Track and Field Meet 2026 on June 18 and 19, with events beginning at 5pm each day at the Oleai Sports Complex Track and Field. 

Day 1 on Thursday, June 18, will feature the men, women, and masters long jump; masters 60m sprint; men and women 800m run; men and women 100m dash; men, women, and masters shot put, and men and women 5,000m run. 

Competition continues on Day 2, Friday, June 19, with the men, women, and masters discus throw; men and women 110m hurdles; men and women 200m dash; men and women 1,500m run; men, women, and masters javelin throw; and the men and women 4x100m relay. 

NMA president Ramon Tebuteb said the meet provides an opportunity for athletes of all ages to compete and encourages community members to stay active. He said the event promotes healthy living and wellness, whether through organized sports or individual fitness activities.

He invited the community—athletes and residents to participate and said, “We encourage them to come out, and we especially extend our sincere and profound gratitude for their continuous support for the many, many years that we’ve volunteered our time and effort.” 

He added that the event would not be possible without the support of community partners, local businesses, sponsors, volunteers, and the media, all of whom have played an important role in helping the organization continue its programs and annual events. As a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, he said NMA relies on the collective efforts and encouragement of those who support its mission of promoting athletics in the CNMI.

He then expressed his gratitude to the many volunteers who dedicate their time each year to organizing events, all of whom are important to keeping NMA up and running.

The link is: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/138320/nma-open-track-and-field-2026

Making Healthier Choices Every Day: Maxine Lopez Named Overall Female Winner Of The 2026 Gold’s Gym Transformation Challenge

SAIPAN — Gold’s Gym Saipan is proud to announce Maxine Lopez as the Overall Female Winner of the prestigious 2026 Gold’s Gym Transformation Challenge. Along with the coveted title, Lopez has been awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a 1-year membership to Gold's Gym to support her ongoing fitness journey. By pairing relentless daily consistency with a powerful personal support system, Lopez achieved a staggering physical transformation, embodying the grit and determination it takes to completely rewrite one's health story.

Lopez’s results from the challenge are a testament to her dedication. She achieved a significant improvement in her body composition, focusing on building strength and improving her cardiovascular health. Through consistent training, she saw a remarkable change in her physical fitness levels and overall well-being.

When asked to describe her journey in exactly three words, Lopez did not hesitate: "Life-changing. Empowering. Transformative."

"I am so proud of all of our challengers and the incredible strides they have made for themselves and their loved ones," said Tyce Mister, the General Manager of Gold’s Gym Saipan. "Everyone has their own unique challenges when starting a fitness journey. It sounds like Maxine’s very first hurdle was her mindset, but her story proves that just making subtle, consistent changes over time makes a massive difference. It is truly inspirational to our entire community."

Lopez built her victory on daily consistency rather than fleeting motivation, choosing sustainable lifestyle shifts over quick fixes. She fueled her success with balanced, nutrient-dense meals to support her activity levels. She also focused on discipline, establishing new habits and moving away from previous patterns of frequent snacking.

A massive portion of her success is credited to her vital personal support system: her sister, Mikayla, and Christopher, who is a personal trainer. Together, they guided her throughout the journey, helping her create a realistic workout routine and a balanced nutritional approach. Their constant encouragement, accountability, and support kept her focused and committed through every challenging moment.

"My biggest weapon was my mindset," said Lopez. "Once I stopped looking for quick fixes and committed to making healthier choices every day, everything started to change. I discovered that I’m capable of much more than I thought. Real strength isn’t about being perfect; it’s about continuing to move forward even when things get difficult."

Today, Lopez reports feeling stronger, lighter, and more energetic, noting that everyday activities are now effortless. When asked what advice she would offer to community members who want to change their lives but feel hesitant to start, Lopez offered a powerful message of encouragement.

"If you’re sitting in the parking lot feeling scared or intimidated, just remember that everyone starts somewhere," Lopez shared. "Walking through those doors is the hardest step, but it can also be the first step toward changing your life. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Start where you are, stay consistent, and trust the process. Your future self will thank you for it."

For individuals looking to mirror Lopez's life-changing results, Gold's Gym Saipan stands as the premier destination for fitness development. The facility's certified personal training staff specializes in taking the intimidation out of the fitness journey. By working with a professional trainer, members receive the custom workout programming and coaching required to build lasting, sustainable health habits.

About Gold's Gym Saipan

Gold’s Gym Saipan is dedicated to helping members realize their individual potential through world-class facilities, a supportive fitness community, and expert personal training. Whether walking through the gym doors for the very first time or training for an elite milestone, Gold's Gym provides the tools, guidance, and environment needed to change lives. (PR)