CNMI national players Coby Santos, Dean Blake, Preston Basa and Douglas Schmidt were called up to take on the challenge.
Also participating were recreational league stars such as Mak Mintac, Darwin Barbo, Joe Sablan, Matt Duenas, Fred Pelisamen, Jeff Castro, Jaymark De Guzman, Kelvin Fitial, Richard McWilliams, Arnold Arellano, Stephene Erdene and Josh Andrews.
Douglas Schmidt, Mak Mintac, Douglas Schmidt and Coby Santos were among the crowd favorites. Against their opponents, their unique skills proved superior, but the rest of the players gave it their all nonetheless.
Kings of the Game is the first ever one-on-one basketball tournament in the Northern Marianas. It will also be the first locally made YouTube series about basketball.
Mac Mintac protects the ball as he goes for the drive against Douglas Schmidt during their Kings of the Game one-on-one, Saturday, at the ACS basketball court. Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
Richard McWilliams pulls up for the three-point shot over Stephen Erdene during their Kings of the Game one-on-one at the ACS basketball court. Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
The Marianas International Basketball League, in partnership with IT&E, launched Kings of the Game to highlight the local basketball scene while promoting the islands at the same time.
The tournament was played on Dec. 12 but fans will have to watch the entire event broken down into five episodes with the first launched on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. on the MILB YouTube channel. You must subscribe to see the action unfold and who the ultimate winner is.
MIBL would like to thank its sponsors: The Game Athletics, Sunny Side Café, Latte Built Gym, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Eats Easy, Poki Yaki and Aqua Resort Club.
