By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Northern Youth Basketball Association will open the 2007 season with its 16-and-under League, which is tentatively scheduled to kick off on March 20.
NYBA developmental officer Joe Diaz is calling on coaches/managers to form their teams and join the NYBA 16-and-under League.
“We’re also inviting schools to field teams in the tournament. This will be the start of the NYBA 2007 season and we hope to do it with a bang with the participation of villages and schools,” Diaz said.
The 16-and-under league will have competitions in six divisions, namely the boys’ 15 to 16 age group, 13 to 14, 11 to 12, 10-and-under and the co-ed 15 to 16 and 14-and-under divisions.
Diaz is reminding interested teams that there will be a required grade average for players who want to join the 16-and-under caging. Players must have a C or better average grade. Coaches must submit a copy of the players’ report cards.
Another requirement is copies of birth certificates for those playing for the first time in an NYBA sanctioned tournament.
Teams which will also be competing in the NYBA for the first time must submit a club registration form available at the NYBA main office, which is located at the Marianas Health Services in Middle Road, Garapan.
Last year, the NYBA 16-and-under caging had only three division contests.
The G-Rollers 2 won the 12-and-under division, the G-Rollers 1 ruled the 14-and-under and the G-Rollers 2 topped the 16-and-under age group.
To register or for more information, contact Diaz or Paul Camacho at 233-4646 or via email at nyba-cnmi@hotmail.com.