Kontenders, the top 4 team in the Rotary league, said they were very disappointed when they were told by one league official at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium that their match with G-Stars was called off due to the absence of some players from their opponent’s side.
They said that they were informed that some G-Stars players have been sent to Guam to compete in the ongoing 2008 FIBA-Oceania Youth Basketball Tournament.
Given the situation, Kontenders asked whether or not their scheduled match with G-Stars should rather be forfeited. They were told no.
Kontenders and G-Stars were supposed to play at the Ada Gym on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Kontenders emphasized that they should have been informed prior to their scheduled game so that they did not have to assemble their team whose players have to come from distant areas on island.
They said most of their team members come from Kagman, and some from Capital Hill.
Kontenders Coach Vince Tagabuel was not informed of their sudden game suspension, the players told Variety.
No definite date of make-up game between Kontenders and G-Stars was issued, according to one Kontenders players.
In an interview in his office at the Ada Gym, Elias Rangamar, president of the Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, reasoned that they are having difficulty notifying Rotary teams about the change of schedule of their games ahead of time because most of the teams cannot be reached for lack of contact persons and details.
Rangamar mentioned three teams have e-mail addresses, while the rest do not have any contact details.
He also said that only a handful of players from Junior Nationals team have been sent to Guam to compete in the Oceania tourney, and this does not include some G-Stars cagers.
Currently, Kontenders are defending a 3-3 win-lose card, while G-Stars are holding a 5-1 win-lose card close to their chest.
G-Stars is on the third spot in the team standings.
