The Sports Leigh-Out Sept. 27-Oct. 3

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.

CNMI to compete in Micro Cup Canoe Race in Palau

CNMI paddlers of all ages are gearing up for the 25th Annual Micro Cup Canoe Race in Palau, set for Oct. 24–26. A series of races off Kilili shores, held since the national team’s return from the Palau Pacific Mini Games, has been preparing the batch of paddlers who will go up against teams from Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

Northern Marianas Paddle Sports Federation president Justin Andrew, who was at Kilili Beach for one of their races on Saturday gave the run down of their preparations with about a month left until the event.

He said, “Since the Mini Games, we’ve continued on with our local races. We’ve had I think two long distance V6 races, V1 single man canoe races, sprints, as well as relay. All these races that we scheduled to do locally are sort of geared toward getting better and as well as part of our training to go race the big races regionally.”

He pointed to the Marianas Outrigger Club’s participation in the inaugural Va’a Japan National Championships in Enoshima on Sept. 14 as an example. He said it shows that CNMI paddlers are improving by gaining more experience on the regional stage. Looking ahead to the next big event in Palau, he added that the local races serve as important training for competing there.

Young swimmers make waves at Tsunami Cup Backstroke Sprint Jr. Champs

The pool was full of energy on Saturday, Sept. 27, as the Tsunami Cup Backstroke Sprint Junior Championships splashed off at the Pacific Islands Club swimming pool. With cheering parents, coaches, and teammates lined up along the deck, the young athletes dove in with plenty of speed, determination, and excitement.

Gwen Retardo led the way in the 11–12 division, finishing first with a strong 31.66 seconds. Teammates Sera Guerrero(33.24) and Seungwoo Lee (36.84) weren’t far behind, giving Tsunami Saipan a clean sweep in the age group finals.

In the 9–10 race, Vince Seman Jr. of Saipan Swim Club held off the competition to touch first in 37.75 seconds, just ahead of Tsunami’s Yoonmin Cho (38.53) and Leo Li (41.83).

For the 8 & Under division, Lucy Shin of Tsunami Saipan showed her speed early, winning the race in 41.43 seconds. Teammate Emily Kang (43.32) and SSC’s Lukasz Szefler (44.14) rounded out the podium.

This year’s Tsunami Cup featured three age divisions: 8 & Under, 9 & 10, and 11 & 12. Each group first competed in prelims, where swimmers battled for a spot in the finals. Because the PIC pool has only three lanes for racing, only the top three swimmers advanced to the A final, while others raced in the B final.

With limited lanes, the pressure was on to perform in the prelims—and Saturday’s A finalists showed they were ready. From lightning-fast finishes to nail-biting touches, the Tsunami Cup highlighted the depth of young talent in the CNMI and the excitement building for the next generation of swimmers.

PSS expands midseason sports to Tinian and Rota

Instead of only hosting Tinian and Rota teams during championship tournaments, the PSS Athletic Programs is expanding play to those islands—giving their high school athletes more game time and experience in three sports: volleyball, fastpitch softball, and basketball.

The PSS Athletic Programs and the NMI Volleyball Association wrapped up a three-day midseason girls high school volleyball tourney on Tinian yesterday morning, while Rota hosted its debut midseason boys fastpitch softball tourney from Sept. 18-20.

For volleyball, five teams—two from Tinian, two from Saipan, and one from Rota, duked it out in the whirlwind 3-day tournament at the sweltering hot public gym. On Saturday, Saipan Southern High School took the win against Tinian JV in two sets, 21-13, 21-18, while Rota’s Dr. Rita H. Inos High School duked it out and won over Tinian varsity in a three-set thriller, 20-22, 21-14, 15-11.

On Friday, SSHS went up against ACS and won, 21-18, 21-4; RHI won over Tinian JV, 21-16, 21-9; SSHS won their third game, this time over Tinian varsity, 22-20, 21-6; ACS took down RHI, 21-16, 21-14; and Tinian varsity beat sister JV team, 24-22, 21-9.

For the first day of games on Thursday, ACS opened it up with a two set win over Tinian JV, 21-9, 21-12; SSHS powered through in three tough sets against RHI, 18-21, 21-13, 15-12; and ACS defeated Tinian varsity, 21-8, 21-18.

Despite the heat and humidity, the girls competed with heart all three days.

In the softball tourney held on Rota, Kagman High School, Saipan International School, Tinian High School, and Dr. Rita H. Inos High School faced wet weather but managed to squeeze in games at the newly renovated Joaquin “Tun Kindo” M. Ogo Baseball Field.

Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub opens in Tanapag

The CNMI’s first-ever indoor pickleball courts—the Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub in Tanapag—officially opened to the public on Saturday. The facility features four courts and offers both monthly and daily rates.

Dozens of pickleball enthusiasts gathered for the opening of the hub, which was created for players of all ages and skill levels. It adds much-needed options for the growing community of pickleball players on the island.

Membership fees are set at $20 per month, with open play available from morning until midnight. Starting at 7pm, courts can be reserved for $8 per hour, per court.

The courts meet international standards, with the long-term goal of attracting players from around the world to compete here in leagues and tournaments—and eventually preparing CNMI players to compete off-island.

Gail Manalang, part of the pickleball group, said the owners wanted a safe and reliable space for players regardless of the weather.

Bears roar past Phillies, 10-0

The Bears roared back into the spotlight Thursday night, crushing the Phillies in a commanding 10-0 shutout at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. The win bumps the Bears to six victories against four losses, keeping their playoff hopes alive as the Saipan Baseball League barrels toward the postseason.

With just a handful of regular-season games left, all eyes are on the skies—and the standings. If the weather holds up, the league’s best-of-three championship series is locked in for Oct. 27, 29, and 31.

KagES, WSR notch wins in soccer

The PSS-NMIFA Coed Elementary Soccer Tournament is heating up as it races toward championship week! The island’s youngest soccer stars lit up the pitch on Wednesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center—showing off their speed, energy, and love for the game.

Kagman Elementary School flew to a 2-0 win over Saipan Community School; William S. Reyes Elementary School 1 put up five over Koblerville Elementary School 2’s one goal; Mount Carmel School 1 slipped past San Vicente Elementary School 2, 4-3; SVES 1 blew out Brilliant Star School 2, 13-2; and Saipan International School quieted Oleai Elementary School 1, 6-0.

HMS, FMS take wins in boys hoops

Speed, energy, and passion were on full display Monday afternoon as the PSS-NMIBF Boys Middle School Basketball League packed the Marianas High School Gymnasium with a slate of exciting matchups.

In varsity play, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School edged out Cha Cha Ocean View Middle School in a nail-biter, 18-16. Hopwood Middle School made a statement with a commanding 43-10 victory over Mount Carmel School, while Dandan Middle School matched that intensity with a 43-10 win against Saipan Community School. Tanapag Middle School also kept the pressure high, defeating Grace Christian School, 33-10.

The competition stayed fierce in the junior varsity division, where FMS JV outlasted COVMS in a close contest, 36-29.

U17 women’s team to compete in Singapore

A sendoff ceremony for the NMI U17 Women’s National Soccer Team was held on Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium ahead of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in Bishan, Singapore.

They have been placed in Group E with Australia and host nation Singapore. They’ll kick things off against a formidable Australian team on Monday, Oct. 13, then go up against Singapore on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The team’s roster features Hailey Benavente, Aira Daca, Jade Pascual, Christina Napitan, Orica George, Alyssa Borlongan, Ye Lynn Ha, Iris Rasa, Cassidee Flores, Aubrey White, Jacqueline Cepeda, Miley Mafnas, Stacy Arriola, Angel Calayag, Alyssa Brassuell, Elyza Brillo, Kaye Anne Costales, and Va’aina Reyes.

They are joined by head coach Luem Khen Koo, assistant coaches Mae Ito and Ronnel Ocanada, team manager Bernadette Horey, assistant team manager Yu Hung Lee, and team physiotherapist Hazel Mabasa.

Remarks were made by Northern Mariana Islands Football Association president Jerry Tan and newly appointed NMIFA general secretary Merlie Tolentino.