By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety New Staff

AFTER a week’s break, the Northern Youth Basketball Association will return to practice in preparation for tournaments on Guam and Tinian in the coming months.
NYBA president Joe Diaz said they were invited to participate in a tournament on Guam in February.
“The invitation came from Barrigada’s John Lujan and it’s a village tournament,” Diaz said.
The NYBA head added that they are hoping to send two teams to the 16-and-under tournament in Barrigada.
“This tournament will give our players a chance to play against players with different playing styles. During the NYBA Invitational, we only had a chance to play the 18-and-under team of Barrigada,” Diaz said.
After the tournament on Guam, NYBA will be preparing for the Tinian Youth Goodwill Tournament.
“This is similar to what Tinian hosted last year, but I think this one may run a few days,” Diaz said.
NYBA’s busy schedule will continue in the remaining nine months of the 2007 season.
This month, the club will start registration for new and current members.
Members will be grouped in age brackets. Diaz will be handling the 15 to 19 age group, Jose Tumaquip will be coaching the 14-and-under division, while George Cruz will be mentoring the 12-and-under age group.
Female players will have their own team.
The membership fee is $95 per year and will cover the cost of insurance. Members will also get jerseys and membership IDs.
Diaz added that members will get discounts from stores/commercial establishments, which will be sponsoring NYBA tournaments.
After the registration, NYBA will be holding a clinic later this month and in February it will host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
It will also start its 16-and-under league in March and the youth caging will run until April.
NYBA will then field teams in the Rotary caging in June and in July. It will host the 3rd Annual NYBA Invitational with the club hoping to invite teams from Japan and the Philippines.
NYBA teams will continue their hunt for the Rotary caging title in August and will take a break in September.
Practice will resume in October and in November NYBA will be holding its first-ever 12-and-under tournament.
NYBA will cap the 2007 season with its participation in the Christmas caging.