THE Northern Marianas Sports Association on Tuesday evening inducted Irminia Pua, Jester Garcia, Keith Nabors and Bob Coldeen into the NMI Sports Hall Fame for their lifelong and outstanding contributions to local sports.
Each inductee received $100 shopping spree at I-Shop, courtesy of Tan Siu Lin Foundation and a trophy.
Irminia Pua played for the fabled Oleai softball team that captured multiple championships in the women’s league from the 1960’s to 1970’s.
A catcher, Pua was an outstanding hitter with a batting average of .600. She won the batting title in the 1975 season with an average of .680.
Accepting the award for Pua at Kensington Hotel during NMSA’s awards banquet was her niece Kina Rangamar.
Pua, who was in the states, sent a message via video. “Thank you for nominating me and choosing me for this very special award. I’m very thankful and honored. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
Outstanding
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Jester Garcia was one of the islands’ outstanding basketball players.
From 1999 to 2006, he played in the Saipan Major League for the Brewers who were managed by fellow Hall of Famer Tony Rogolifoi.
Garcia won the Infield of the Year Award in 2006; the Playoff and Championship MVP in 2006; and was an SML all-star selection in 2006.
He played in the 2002 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei where the CNMI won silver; and in the 2005 Mini South Pacific Games in Palau.
He was on the CNMI team that won the gold in the 2006 Micronesian Games on Saipan and silver in the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau.
From 2001 to 2006, he was a coach in the Little League program and was named Coach of the Year for the Junior League and for the Senior League All-Stars.
“I just want to thank NMSA for electing me to the Hall of Fame Class of 2022,” Garcia said in a video message. Like Pua, he was in the states.
“Unfortunately, I’m not there personally but I’m honored and humbled to receive this award. This award wasn’t something I accomplished myself, there are a few folks I want to thank — my family, friends, wife, my children, and to my mentors Tony Satur, Tony Rogolifoi, Rufino Aguon, the late Jesse Wabol, to my idols who I mold my game after,” Garcia said.
“I was never the biggest, strongest, fastest kid but I worked my butt off to get better. If you put your mind to it and work hard, you’ll do good. I just want to be remembered as someone who worked hard and had passion for the game and give it back to the younger generation to help them improve their game. Did you get that Bob?” referring to the catchphrase that was made famous by retired KMCV/KSPN sports reporter and news director Bob Coldeen.
The pride of Tinian
Joining the Hall of Fame this year is long-time coach Keith Nabors, the pride of Tinian sports. He coached the Tinian Junior Senior High School that recently won the interscholastic boys high school basketball championship for the second straight year.
He has also mentored players in softball, baseball, American football, track, and slinging.
“Thank you to my family, my wife, sisters and brothers and kids,” he said. “Thank you for sticking with me through the hard and late nights. Thank you.”
Last but not the least
The island’s beloved sportscaster Bob Coldeen is another newly inducted Hall of Famer.
For 30 years, he documented and highlighted the best moments of CNMI sports, He shot his own video, wrote all his own scripts, and diligently put all his creativity into each sports newscast. He wrote books, he wrote poems, he coached, managed, presided, volunteered, and cheered.
Bob Coldeen, right, holds the NMI Sports Hall of Fame trophy as he poses for a photo with his wife Martha, third left, NMI Sports Hall of Fame committee members James Lee, left, Ray Tebuteb, 2nd left, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, center, Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan, 3rd right, and Saipan Mayor David Apatang, 2nd left, during the NMSA Annual Sports Banquet on Tuesday at the Kensington Hotel Saipan.
Keith Nabors, third left, poses for a photo with NMI Sports Hall of Fame committee members James Lee, left, Ray Tebuteb, 2nd left, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, 3rd right, Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan, 2nd right, and Saipan Mayor David Apatang, right, during the NMSA Annual Sports Banquet on Tuesday at the Kensington Hotel Saipan.
Kina Rangamar, 3rd right, receives the NMI Sports Hall of Fame Award on behalf of Irminia Pua. Also in photo are NMI Sports Hall of Fame committee members James Lee, left, Ray Tebuteb, 2nd left, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, 3rd left, Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan, 2nd right, and Saipan Mayor David Apatang, right, during the NMSA Annual Sports Banquet on Tuesday at the Kensington Hotel Saipan.
