By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

THE Marianas Table Tennis Association is planning to hold the inaugural Micronesian Cup sometime in April or May this year.
MATTA spokesperson Mario Espeleta said the Micro Cup will be hosted by Tinian. “We (MATTA) will be assisting our brothers on Tinian. The Micro Cup will be held after the Goodwill Games between us in March.”
The Goodwill Games between Saipan and Tinian are held twice every year.
MATTA is going to do its part in helping Tinian Dynasty organize the tournament. MATTA is also hoping the Micro Cup will be an opportunity for the regional players to improve their level of play.
Espeleta said the Micro Cup will be interesting to watch after Kiribati said they will be sending a team to be led by their top ranked player while Guam eyes to bounce back after losing the title to the hosts in last year’s 6th Micronesian Games.
Team CNMI won a bronze in Palau while dominating the competitions when Saipan hosted the Micro Games winning 10 medals – four gold, three silver and three bronze – in table tennis.
Guam is set to send two to three teams while Saipan will field two. Tinian and Palau are the other competing teams. Organizers are still trying to get the Marshall Islands to join.
Guam initiated the plan to hold a regular table tennis tournament between the Micronesian island nations
The Micro Cup will then be held every two years with participating islands taking turns hosting the tournament.
MATTA is using the Micro Cup as part of their grassroots development program through which they plan to get younger kids involved in the sport.