Iriespect Luta team members pose for a photo after winning the men’s division championship of the 2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament in Portland, Oregon.
OLDRegon team members pose for a photo after winning the masters division championship of the 2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament in Portland, Oregon.
IRIESPECT Luta and OLDRegon topped their respective divisions in the 2023 CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament held in Portland, Oregon on Sept. 1-3.
This year, Team Kalakas and Da Couve co-hosted the annual tournament.
Along with 2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament Committee Chairman Jordan Pangelinan and Secretary Leonard Sablan, they decided to hold an event for current and former CNMI residents only.
The participating teams were Kalakas, Da Couve, OnlyFamz, Lokal Statuz, Sakudi, Tomba, Fat Boiz, Kingz, Trenchers, Iriespect Luta, ReadyMix, Unklasi, StepBrews, BwiiBwiis, Warriors, SAUNDA, SAOLAK, Five3Two, and Chiba.
Throughout the three-day tournament, Kalakas displayed dominance as they blew through the double-elimination format and reached the finals unscathed to face Iriespect Luta, which had to beat Kalakas twice to win the title.
And that’s exactly what Iriespect Luta did, winning the first game, 11-10, and notching their second victory, 19-2, to claim the men’s division championship title.
Kalakas finished second while Lokal Statuz claimed third place.
This year’s tournament featured the inaugural masters division with a total of four teams.
OLDRegon took the throne by beating Fatter Boiz twice in the finals.
Old Man By The Sea came in third while Sufa finished fourth.
“We realized that the people that started [the annual tournament] are getting older while the competition is getting tougher, so we wanted to honor them and continue to give them a reason to go out and play.” said Leonard Sablan.
An awards ceremony followed the tournament.
In the men’s division, Ernie Taimanglo claimed the Most Valuable Player Award, StepBrews earned the Sportsmanship Award and Iriespect Luta won the Best Fans Award.
In the masters division, Lenwayne Maratita won the MVP Award, Team Sufa earned the Sportsmanship Award and FatterBoiz received the Best Fans Award.
Due to the changes in the rules this year, the number of participating teams was less than last year, when there were 40 teams.
But “there were close to 2,000 people on the field” this year, Sablan said. “That’s what this tournament is all about — to get together and catch up. This is the time of the year when we can all feel at home.”
He said the annual tournament reminds them “where we came from, and to keep our culture and traditional values alive even though we are so far away from home. We are a small but strong community.”
The 2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament Committee would like to thank and recognize this year’s sponsors: the office of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, the office of Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Roil Soil’s Shayne Villanueva, Nesian Built, Jester Taisacan, Jazz Taman, Mike Towai, The Collective Barbershop, Saipan Surf Company, Beyond Blessed Supply, Donahue “Def Pos” Holland, Hafa Stone, Rep. BJ Attao, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, U.S Congressman Greg Kilili Camacho Sablan, Luciana Fegu Ada Cabrera, Tinang’s Yummies and Bernard Villagomez.
Mike Towai sings the CNMI anthem.
Event pioneers Jay Mundo and Fil Camacho are ready to throw the first pitch of the 2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament in Portland, Oregon.
An Iriespect Luta runner rushes to home plate for an earned run.
2023 CNMI Labor Day Tournament committee chairman and Kalakas player Jordan Pangelinan pitches against Iriespect Luta.
