By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

IT’S final. There will be a 25-and-under basketball tournament this year.
According to Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands official Elias Rangamar, the 2007 edition of the youth caging will open this Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Last week, the fate of the 25-and-under caging was unknown, as teams had yet to meet the league’s requirements.
But organizers and team representatives met last Thursday and put the finishing touches on the tournament’s preparations.
Ten squads will be vying for the 2007 title, namely the Ol’Aces, Garapan Rollers, NYBA Stars, G-Stars, Cyclones, Hoopaholics, Sonics, Hi-Five, 670 and Cholos.
Games in the youth caging will be played every Saturday and Sunday.
This Saturday’s opening match will be played at 2 p.m. There will be brief opening rites at 1:30 p.m.
Organizers have yet to announce the teams that will play in the opening.
Sunday’s games will start at 1 p.m.
The regular season will be a round-robin affair, while the format for the playoffs has yet to be decided.
Players who played in the recently concluded MISA High School Basketball League are expected to suit up for the teams that will be participating in the 25-and-under caging.
There was no 25-and-under basketball tournament last year, as BANMI and the NMI were busy hosting the 6th Micronesian Games.
In 2005, The Toyota Ol’Aces won the tournament beating Ulloa’s in the finals.