Father and son winners Keith Nabors Jr., left, and KyMani Nabors.
A group shot of the sling competitors at the Gineptin Ha’anen Taga Festival
KYMANI Nabors, Keith Nabors Jr. and Siena Lazaro were the top slingers in the recently concluded Typhoon Sports Association sling competition held on Tinian during the Gineptin Ha’anen Taga Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Keith Nabors said the competition featured three divisions — youth for competitors below 14 years of age, men’s and women’s.
Cash prizes were sponsored by the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan, Power Builders Inc., and FPA Construction Company.
First, second and third placers received $250, $150 and $100, respectively.
KyMani Nabors bested four others to take home this year’s top prize in the youth division. Roque Camacho, who traveled to the Gineptin Ha’anen Taga Festival from Saipan to take part in the competition, came in second, while Chad Palacios finished third.
The other participants were Galyug Untalan and Rickson Manglona.
The lone women’s division competitor was Siena Lazaro.
In the men’s division, Keith Nabors Jr. finished first, Richard Lazaro was second and Joe Raymond Dela Cruz came in third. The other competitors were KJ Nabors, Peter Ayuyu, Collin Dela Cruz, and Cody Dela Cruz.
Keith Nabors said he and the Typhoon Sports Association partnered with the Tinian Mayor’s Office to host the sling competition as a way to keep Chamorro culture going.
“Whether it’s slinging, weaving or telling stories about our cultures, I think anything like that helps perpetuate our culture,” Keith Nabors said. “We need to pass [the culture] on to our kids.”
“Helping to perpetuate the culture is my main reason for doing this competition,” he added.
His hope is that other islands in the Marianas will participate in future competitions.
“I Invite everyone to come next year,” Keith Nabors said. “Let’s keep perpetuating the culture and keep the culture going in the right directions.”
