By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Northern Youth Basketball Association started the 2007 season with its 16-and-under Basketball League yesterday at the Garapan basketball court.
This year’s 16-and-under caging will have 15 teams competing for three division crowns.
The Garapan Rollers and Kagman Explosives opened the hostilities in the youth caging as they square off in the first game last night in the 12-and-under division.
Also set to play in the opener were the G-Rollers and the Explosives in the girls’ 16-and-under division.
The G-Stars and the Explosives were scheduled to play in the last game in the boys’ 16-and-under age group.
Results of last night’s games were unavailable at press time.
Only two teams are entered in the 12-and-under division with the G-Rollers and Explosives fighting for the title. The 14-and-under division has three teams in the G-Rollers 1 and 2 and the Sonics. The girls’ 16-and-under division also has three teams in the G-Rollers, Kagman Explosives and Cha Cha. Seven teams will be battling for the boys’ 16-and-under crown, namely, the G-Stars, Explosives, Sonics, Celtics and G-Rollers 1, 2 and 3.
Games in the 16-and-under caging will be played every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Tomorrow, Cha Cha will debut against the Explosives in the girls’ 16-and-under division match at 5 p.m., while the G-Rollers 1 will take on the G-Rollers 2 in the 14-and-under division.
The Sonics will meet the Celtics in the 16-and-under division.
Friday’s games will feature the Sonics against the G-Rollers (14-and-under), the G-Rollers 1 vs G.Rollers 2 (16-and-under) and the G-Stars against the Sonics (16-and-under).
The complete schedule of games for the regular season will be issued this Friday. Coaches are requested to pick up copies of the schedule at the Marianas Health Services in Garapan or at the Garapan basketball court during games.
The 12-and-under and girls’ 16-and-under divisions will have a double-elimination format in the regular season, while the two other age groups will follow a single-elimination format.
Formats in the playoffs have yet to be discussed.