Jerry Tan holds the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame trophy as he poses for a photo with Northern Marianas Sports Association board members during the NMSA Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday evening.
Noriko Jim holds the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame trophy as she poses for a photo with Northern Marianas Athletics president Ray Tebuteb during the Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday evening.
FOUR deserving individuals on Wednesday evening were recognized for their countless contributions throughout their many years of involvement in CNMI sports.
They were officially inducted into the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2023 during the Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
The inductees were the late Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel (multi-sports), Noriko Jim (athletics), basketball coach Joseph “Joe” Diaz, and soccer administrator Jerry Tan.
With Public School System Athletics Program Director Nick Gross as the master of ceremonies, the banquet also showcased the outstanding performances of athletes, coaches, officials in 2023 while honoring the pillars of various sports organizations and their significant contributions to CNMI sports.
The Hall of Fame inductees
Joseph “Joe” Diaz founded the 670 Rollers Basketball Club on Jan. 14, 1999, and continues to dedicate himself to the training and development of aspiring athletes in the community.
He and his teams have won several titles in local youth basketball leagues as well as in regional competitions.
Diaz served as the NMI men’s national head coach from 2021 to 2023. Under his leadership and guidance, the team secured a bronze medal at the 2021 FIBA Micronesian Cup Basketball Tournament in Guam.
“I honestly did not know I was going to be called up for this award,” he said. “I thought I was just nominated for Coach of the Year but when I heard Hall of Fame, I truly did not expect that.”
He said he never expected anything, but he also knew “that the Lord will bless me with this path to give me this passion of teaching our kids and our young adults the game of basketball. My award is nice but what is nicer is the whole community knowing what I did — that’s enough for me.”
He added, “I dedicate this award to my late dad, Vincent T. Teregeyo, and my mom Debra Amalia Diaz Teregeyo, to my wife Verna Diaz, my brother Vince Diaz Teregeyo and my son John Babauta.”
Coach Joe also recognized his “second dad,” Clim Laniyo, his Dela Cruz family as well as all his players and their parents.
He is likewise grateful to John Blanco, Pacific Amusement LLC, IT&E, Express Financial, Kada Dia, Hertz Rental Car, McDonald’s Saipan, and “a majority of our lawmakers — even through these are tough times, they still come out to help.”
A long list of accomplishments
Jerry Tan, the long-time president of the NMI Football Association as well as the current president of the Northern Marianas Sports Association, has accomplished a lot for local sports and athletes.
His contributions included securing the first-ever charter flight for Team Marianas to the Pacific Games — the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
He is also responsible for one of the most successful soccer programs not only in the CNMI, but across Micronesia.
He established a soccer facility in Koblerville and is also a member of the University of Guam Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2022). In addition, he is the president of the Saipan Bowling Association and a former president of the Northern Marianas Badminton Association.
“It came as a total surprise,” he said, referring to his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“I know many athletes, administrators, coaches and officials across all sports that have contributed so much to our sporting community and being inducted as one of them — a Hall Of Fame inductee — it’s an honor,” Tan added.
“I appreciate the nomination and the vote of confidence and being part of the Class of 2023. This award inspires me to continue what I love, which is sports, and doing my best to help…in order for [our athletes] to carry the flag for the CNMI…. I’ll continue to do my best,” Tan said.
He is especially proud of the CNMI’s participation in the 2023 Pacific Games. “We came back with the highest number of medals [won by the CNMI],” he added.
“There are also many championships across different sports [for which] our national federations work hard to train, raise money and send athletes [to] regional competitions. So I also want to thank the national federations for that.”
Multi-sport athlete
From 2010 to 2012, the late Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel was a member of Hoe Lokahi Canoe Club and competed in local races and the Micronesian Cup. In 2013, he moved to the Saipan Paddling Club and got a silver medal in the Micronesian Cup in Palau. In 2014, he was part of the gold medal team in the Micronesian Games in Pohnpei. In the 2015 and 2016 Micronesian Cups in Palau and Guam, he collected five gold medals and one silver as member of the Marianas Outrigger Club. In 2018, he won silver in the Micronesian Games in Yap.
Besides being a paddler, Jack was also active in volleyball, triathlon, running, and swimming. He was named NMSA Male Athlete of the Year twice. He used to hold the NMI national record in the 800m run, triple jump, and 3,000 steeplechase, and won a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase event in the 2008 Oceania Area Championships
Still an active runner
Noriko Jim, who has been involved with athletics since the 1990s, remains an active runner today.
She was the NMSA Female Athlete of Year in 2006, and the previous CNMI national record holder in 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m runs.
She won gold medals in the 5,000m and 3K Cross Country and silver in the 1,500m race in the 2006 Micronesian Games. She won gold in the 5,000m in the 2005 Micronesian Athletics Championships and silver in the 1,500m.
She also won the 10K event in the Saipan Marathon 17 times (open division/overall and age group). She participated in the half marathon of the 2020 Saipan Marathon and finished second. In 2022 she finished first in the 5K event.
The winners of the other awards will be featured in Variety’s next edition.
The family members of the late Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel pose for a photo with Marianas Outrigger Club representative Billy Grow and Northern Marianas Sports Association board member Alex Sablan during the NMSA Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday evening.
Joseph “Joe” Diaz holds the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame trophy as he poses for a photo with Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation President James Lee during the Northern Marianas Sports Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday evening.
