By Demalynn Sablan - demalynn.sablan@mvariety.com - Marianas Variety Junior Reporter 

This year, the Settsu Red Impulse Basketball Club from Osaka, Japan, will be going up against the NMI’s top 18- and-under high school basketball students; and for the first time, joining the Tournament this year are teams from the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam.

The Settsu Red Impulse basketball team consists of 24 players, three coaches and managers, plus several parents, family members and chaperones. The IIAAG will be well- represented by the Notre Dame High School Royals, featuring some of the top Guam high school basketball student athletes who have dominated their respective leagues this past school year, and who have donned the Guam age group junior national team colors for international competition.

SSFBT is not only focused on competition, but also focused on building long-lasting relationships.

The Basketball Association of the NMI has planned other activities such as a basketball player’s clinic with BANMI National Basketball Development Officer, Elias M. Rangamar, and a special professional coach from Japan, Shouki Omura; a pre-tournament bar-b-que party for all participants, coaches and their parents, plus sponsors and special guests; half-time promotions during the semi-finals and finals games for spectators; and a special post-tournament function for all visiting teams, off-island guests and local student athlete participants.

BANMI is proud of the Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament, which has continued for six consecutive years. The Tournament would not be possible without the generosity of our tremendous sponsors, public and private community supporters, the commitment of our organization’s officials and volunteers, and all of our hard-working public and private school coaches and student athletes.