Mesa explained that if the ongoing tournament of the Inter-government/Business League and the Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League will always be delayed due to intermittent power outages, the 25-under BANMI tournament cannot start because the leagues are using only one venue – the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with their respective games.
“If we can complete [the games of] the Inter-government and the Rotary caging, then that’s the only time the [CNMI] Masters can take its place in the Gym,” Mesa said.
He emphasized that BANMI will negotiate with the Division of Recreation the possible schedule the association’s caging may be accommodated.
Mesa mentioned he will have to submit first the number of teams that will participate in the CNMI masters caging to BANMI president, Elias Rangamar, before the association could wish to secure a slot in the gym schedule of sports activities.
“Right now, it’s hard [for them] to give us a slot because we don’t have a target 2026,” Mesa said, hoping the Inter-government/Business League basketball games will end soon so that they can apply for a time schedule.
He pointed out the CNMI basketball masters games was supposed to start in July of this year, but it was bumped off due to the on-going basketball leagues, which are hampered by the power outages.
Mesa said the BANMI masters tournament can be scheduled during the weekend as soon as the current caging matches are finished.
However, he also said, they can take weekday slots if possible.
“A lot of these tournaments won’t take Saturdays and Sundays, so I want to take that opportunity,” he stated, saying he wants to launch the caging masters in late September.
Mesa emphasized he intends to complete the roster of teams for the CNMI masters caging and draw all the required fees from the participants for now.
“As long as they’re not yet in, I have to keep prolonging it [the start of the tournament],” he said.
