The Sports Leigh-Out Oct. 18-24

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

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.

Lady Dolphins are new high school v-ball champs

After eight long years of Grace Christian Academy Eagles’ reign over the girls high school volleyball scene, there’s finally a new champion on top.

The undefeated Marianas High School Dolphins claimed the once-elusive title this school year after sweeping the Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays in straight sets, 21-12, 21-11, on Friday at the raucous Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

As the Lady Dolphins were undefeated heading into the finals, they had a one set advantage in the best-of-5 set championship game. All they needed to do was win two straight sets to clinch the title.

Drama, emotion, and passion seeped out of every corner of the gym as the crowd’s cheers became the background noise to the battle for it all on the court.

The Lady Dolphins’ tactical plays, led by captain and national team player Erica Zandueta, ensured they landed points not just by kills but also by dinks at the net that rooted the Lady Manta Rays. Meanwhile, the Lady Manta Rays, led by senior and national player Azzy Fatialofa, made it a nightmare for the Lady Dolphins to return their hard-hit kills.

But with precision and speed, the Lady Dolphins won the first set, 21-12. The second set was an even bigger nail-biter as the Lady Manta Rays tried to stay alive. However, Fatialofa was unfortunately taken out of the game after diving for a ball and hurting herself, which stalled the match for about 10 minutes. The crowd and teams then cheered for her as she was wheeled off and the game continued.

The Lady Manta Rays played with more fervor, attempting to win the set and possibly the game for their fallen teammate, scoring back-to-back points. But the Lady Dolphins’ Zandueta, Ella Hall, and Jayme Vargas held their defenses steady and managed to swim away with the second set to wrap up the finals and etch their school’s name on the perpetual plaque after eight years of GCA’s reign.

With Zandueta, Vargas, and Hall were Charlotte Amango, Gail Amano, Jana Agbuya, Keala Takeda, Genecia Agulto, Lina Tsukagoshi, Abbie Kim, Hiromi Sasamoto, and Emma Sablan.

14 runners compete in Asia Pacific Invitational Champs

Fourteen young high school runners from the CNMI are competing in the Asia Pacific International Cross Country Championship 2025 in Guam.

In their first event yesterday morning, Addalee Taflinger finished sixth overall in the girls division with a time of 22:17.50, while Victor Nash Santos finished eighth overall in the boys division with a time of 17:36.30.

In the yearly event, the student-athletes race twice—a traditional 5K course and then a relay where boys and girls will race together in 2.5K segments.

The boys’ roster includes high school champion Victor Nash Santos (Saipan International School), who finished first overall with a time of 18:42.33, along with Victor Neil Santos (Saipan International School), Landen Taflinger (Saipan International School), Michael Miller (Marianas High School), Takeru Jim (Marianas High School), Ziheng Cai (Agape Christian School), and Yongqi Fan (Agape Christian School).

The girls’ roster features high school champion Addalee Taflinger (Saipan International School), who finished with a time of 24:01.42, along with Orica George (Marianas High School), Dianna Zheng (Grace Christian Academy), Jian Chun (Marianas High School), Jiahui Chen (Agape Christian School), Zhaoyu Shen (Agape Christian School), and Jiamei Hong (Agape Christian School).

The team is joined by coaches and chaperones Angela Taflinger from SIS and Chad Taflinger from MHS.

Today, they compete in the relay portion of the event, with the awards banquet to be held after.

Trench Tech bags 19 medals in Marianas Open

The Trench Tech Purebred Saipan team took the 2025 Marianas Open International Championship (Gi & No-Gi Tournament) by storm as all 12 of their athletes bagged podium finishes with a total of 19 medals won on Saturday at the University of Guam Fieldhouse. To top it off, both Saipan and Guam’s Purebred team took home second place in the overall Kids Team Gi division.

In the Gi master divisions, professor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez led the way and earned silver in the Male Black Master 46 Open Weight, while Jose Mafnas Jr. claimed silver in the Male Purple Master 30 Open Weight.

The team’s dominance continued in the Male White Adult 18 Middle bracket, where Evert Van Der Maas added a silver and a bronze medal in the open weight. Vicente Masga then took bronze in the Male Brown Adult 18 Feather division.

Among the younger competitors, Gabriel Mitchell earned silver in the Male Orange Kid 6 Heavy; Justo Quitugua won silver in the Male Gray Kid 6 Medium Heavy Category and bronze in the No-Gi Male Gray Kid 6 Medium; Gerard Naputi captured bronze in the Male White Kid 6 Light; Jordan Camacho earned silver in the Male Gray Kid 4 Super Heavy division, while Jacqueline Quitugua secured silver in the Female Gray Kid 4 Ultra Heavy.

The team’s young girls continued their medal streak with Aiyani Rios earning silver in the Female Gray Kid 4 Feather and Athena Feger taking silver in the Female White Kid 2 Rooster division.

In the No-Gi categories, Van Der Maas then struck gold in the Male White Adult 18 Middle.

In the youth male categories, Mitchell repeated his silver performance in the Male Orange Kid 6 Heavy, and Gerard Naputi won gold in the Male White Kid 6 Light. Umatalaf Naputi added a bronze in the Male Gray Kid 3 Light Feather, and Jacqueline Quitugua picked up bronze in the Female Gray Kid 4 Ultra Heavy. Meanwhile, Rios earned another bronze in the Female Gray Kid 4 Light, closing out a consistent weekend for the Purebred squad.

Over 500 joins Red Ribbon 5K

More than 500 participants painted the Garapan Fishing Base and Beach Road Pathway with a kaleidoscope of colors on Saturday during the CNMI Youth Congress’ Inaugural Red Ribbon 5K and Fun Run, held to raise awareness about living a substance and nicotine-free life.

Takeru Jim smoked the competition coming in first overall with a time of 20:12, while the battle for second was close with Yutaka Kadokura coming in with a time of 20:36, while Victor Neil Santos timing in at 20:38.

In the overall female division, Dianna Zheng clocked in at 24:50, Orica George was second at 27:47, and Genelyn Lansangan came in third at 28:11.

As for top finishes in the age division, the top male finishers in the 13-18 age group were Dave Odicta at 22:07, Kaide Benson with 22:32, and Pete Phair also at 22:32. Meanwhile, the top female finishers were Julie Chavez at 30:10, Richelle Sune was second with 30:36, and Jasmine Deleon Guerrero came in third at 30:36.

Victor Nash Santos, chairperson for Sports and Recreation in the 20th CNMI Youth Congress said they aligned the event with Red Ribbon Week in the U.S. which is the largest drug-prevention campaign.

VEGA Environmental 3x3 Basketball Tourney underway

It’s 3x3 basketball madness at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium as the VEGA Environmental 3x3 Basketball Tournament tipped off with 18 teams and 16 rounds of 10 minute fast-paced games. The games will continue on Monday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 29.

As of Wednesday, the Asian Persuasion team is undefeated with five wins, along with undefeated Hot Shots and Arc Angels who both have two wins each.

Team Bricklayers rallies to 1st place in Saipan Mayor’s Precinct 5: 3 on 3 Youth Basketball Tournament

Team Bricklayers take first place after an action-packed game with Team USA with a close score of 30-29 capping off the second edition of the Saipan Mayor’s 3 on 3 Youth Basketball Tournament at the Kagman 2 Court on Saturday.

A total of 15 teams participated in the latest iteration of the Saipan Mayor’s 3 on 3 Youth Basketball Series this time taking place in Precinct 5 at the Kagman 2 Basketball Court. This series aims to promote and support youth sports as well as active and healthy lifestyles amongst the youth.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office would like to thank their partners, The Office of Congressman T.J. Manglona, DC Pro Rentals, Mad Flex Fitness and Sports Club, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, and The Office of Senator Jude Hofschenider, for their generous donations and support in this tournament.

Falcons vs. Cards in SBL champs

The defending champs Cardinals will take on the Falcons in the best-of-3 championship round of the 2025 Saipan Baseball League. The Falcons flew through the playoffs as they first took down the No. 3 seeded Bandits, 7-5, on Monday, and the Blue Jays on Wednesday, 8-6, while the Cards showed no mercy to the Bears as they tore them up, 14-0, on Tuesday.