WENO TEAM MOWONEAU ARE THE 2005-2006 CHUUK STATE CHAMPIONS

Champions: Team Mowoneau 

TEAM MOWONEAU WINS CHUUK BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Team Mowoneau Wins Chuuk Basketball Championship

The first game of the day had just been completed when the Tol 1 team appeared in the back entrance to the Chuuk High School Gym. Wearing white jerseys this experienced team had a strong and tough inside player, coupled with several young guards who added fresh legs and spirit to this veteran team.

Weno Mowoneau had gathered on the other side of the gym. Prior to entering the gym, affectionately known as “The Cage”, the team had a long and serious meeting in the parking lot. They entered wearing black jerseys and a look of determination.

As the two teams went through warm ups, Referees Bill and Elibie Sewell watched the players. Score bench personnel Randy Petewon, official scorer, Lilly Sewell time keeper and Mason Fritz announcer, watched with interest as the crowd grew. The gym was packed to capacity and the stage set for an exciting and action packed 40 minutes of Chuuk basketball.

These two teams are not strangers to one another. Members of both Tol 1 and Mowoneau have competed against one another for more than five years. In fact, these two teams met in 2000 for the Chuuk Basketball Championship. It was a very competitive game then and the same was anticipated in today’s championship game.

Players from both teams have played together on Chuuk State teams. Both teams have players that competed against one another in the 2005 high school basketball league, and last month players from Tol 1 and Mowoneau met to decide who would reign as the state’s 3-on-3 champs.

But more important, Chuuk’s basketball community is small and players know other players, a small fraternity of individuals who can claim ties to one another through the basketball.

Mowoneau. in order to put pressure on Tol’s center and make certain he didn’t get easy lay-ups, started the game in a man-to-man defense. This strategy kept the inside scoring down, but Tol found an answer in Remes, Tol’s point guard, who early in the first quarter hit two big time 3-point shots, as did Santos and other members of his team.

Mowoneau was able to keep the game close with balanced scoring, so that at the end of the first quarter of play Tol lead by only two points.

The action continued with Mowoneau pushing the pace and continuing to exhibit good medium range shooting as well as scoring several key baskets off the fast break.

Third quarter action saw Mowoneau pull away to a 9 point lead. This lead continued into the fourth quarter, but a surge from Tol brought the game to within two points. Scoring see-sawed but Tol was unable to reclaim the lead.

With 1:58 to go Mowoneau led by 5 points, but a determined Tol team kept coming back, hitting tough shots and pushing their opponents to the limit – Mowoneau answered. As time continued to run the teams exchanged basket for basket, but the lead was never reduced to less than four points.

With only seconds remaining and the clock ticking down, Tol’s Santos grabbed the ball, dribbled to half court where he launched an unbelievable “Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon” shot that hit nothing but net. The buzzer sounded, and Mowoneau had won 75 to 72 in one of the most thrilling games of basketball ever played in Chuuk.

There were no losers here, only players who now stood on the court, drenched in sweat, exhausted from a fantastic game, all having done their best. Everyone was a champion this day!

Without Volunteers there could be no basketball tournament. 

2nd Place: Tol 1 

4th Place Weno Cougars 

3rd Place: Mortlocks 

Tol 1 and Mwoneau to play for Chuuk State Basketball Championship

Saturday, January 14th will see the last two games of the Chuuk Basketball Championship (CBC). There will be two games and an enthusiastic crowd is anticipated.

Mortlocks will face the Cougars to determine third and fourth place. The Mortlock team is made up of younger and very talented players, whereas the Cougars have more experienced players. Both teams like to fast break, getting the rebound and outletting to their guards.

Tol 1 is an experienced team with bigger inside men and good outside shooters. They are tough under the boards and play a varied game. Mwoneau is much smaller inside and will have to find an answer to Tol 1's big men.

It should be an exciting day of basketball.

2005 CHUUK BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (CBC)

Defending Champions Cougars 

Scorebench Volunteers Ready To Go 

First Two Days of CBC Competition Completed

Eight teams from four of the regions in Chuuk, Northern and Southern Namoneas, Faichuk, and the Mortlocks, are currently participating in the 2005 Chuuk State basketball championships. The teams are:
• Cougars - Defending Champion
• Mwoneau
• Mortlocks
• Nepukos
• Re Fairo
• Tol 1
• Tol 2
• Weno 3

After two days of pool play each team has played one game.
Game 1: Mortlocks defeated Tol 1
Game 2: Mwoneau defeated Weno 3
Game 3: Cougars defeated Nepukos
Game 4: Re Fairo defeated Tol 2

Games resume on Tuesday, December 26, and pool play continued until December 30. Starting Tuesday, January 3rd teams will crossover and play against teams in the other pool. At the conclusion of the tournament All-Star Teams will be selected and several games will be played.

Girls begin training on Monday, December 26th and games will be scheduled the following weeks.

Fans enjoying the Meneau vs Weno 3 Game 

Warming up at the CHS gym 

Aneen drives for a layup against Nantaku 

3-on-3 Tournament Excites Basketball Fans

For the last several weekends youth and open aged players from throughout Chuuk State have been gathering at the Chuuk High School Gym to compete in the 2005 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.

The CHS administration has become active in promoting sports activities for students and the community youth and used the tournament as a fund raiser. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to improve conditions at the gym.

In the youth division it was the Nantaku Youth that won the championship with a perfect record.

In the open division the udefeated Nantaku saw them playing Aneen that came through the loosers bracket to vie for the title.

Yesterday afternoon saw Aneen defeat Nantaku in two close and hotly contested games to win. Both teams played well and left shaking hands and laughing. It was a great tournament.

Thanks to CHS for sponsoring the tournament and to all the players and fans.

HOOPS' "EASY" ATHLETE

Tedwin Ichiro, Etten Island, Chuuk, FSM 

Tedwin Ichiro Wins 5K Bronze at the MAC

The Micronesian Athletics Championships (MAC) saw a young man from Etten Island run his first ever race on a 400 meter track, and come away with a medal!

Etten Island is a small island located in Truk Lagoon. During the Japanese occupation it was quarried, flattened and turned into one of the first airfields in the Japanese Mandated Islands of Micronesia. Today people have built houses on the airstrip, the air terminal, badly damaged in the bombings that took place in WW II, is a grim reminder of how outside forces have changed the islands.

Tedwin Ichiro lives on Etten Island. He is a modest, hardworking, dedicated and very polite young man. HOOPS first saw Tedwin when he came to Weno to play in the HOOPS’ Summer Youth Basketball Tournament. As a starter for the Etten youth team he played an important part in their drive to the championship in August.

In October we saw Tedwin in a different role: middle and long distance runner, and HOOPS’ realized that this young man has a gift, and it was running. Keitani Graham spoke to Tedwin about continuing to train. Tedwin was interested.

HOOPS’ staff them sat down and discussed Tedwin and decided to make him a HOOPS EASY Athlete (EASY stands for “Elite Athletes Supporting Youth”). HOOPS’ made the commitment to provide accommodation and meals and provide funding to send Tedwin to the Micronesian Athletics Championships to be held in Saipan December 14 and 15.

Tedwin accepted the offer and moved to Weno to live and train with Keitani. Tedwin is a not only a good person with a reserved and dignified personality, but he is easy to get along with, does not engage in the consumption of betel nut, snuff, cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. Additionally, he has a willingness to train hard, listen and learn.

At the Micronesian Athletics Championships Tedwin, running for the very first time on a 400 meter track, claimed the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters.

There are many other Tedwin’s in Chuuk just waiting for the opportunity to train and compete. Unfortunately, there are no facilities for Chuuk’s athletes, and to date the new administration has not made any serious commitment to the youth of the state.

Our athletes deserve sports facilities – something that currently does not exist in Chuuk State. All they ask is that when they step up to the starting line they have had the same change to prepare as competitors from other states and nations. Will their dreams of a 400 meter track and other facilities become a reality, or will Chuuk continue to sell youth short, ignoring their potential and desires?

It is time for Chuuk’s leadership to wake up and start working to support our youth. If you give them the change, they will amaze you, just as Tedwin has done.

Congratulations to the people of Etten who made a decision to participate in the Chuuk Goodwill Games, thereby giving their youth the opportunity to complete… Finally, congratulations to Tedwin for his dedication to live a healthy lifestyle, his hard work and positive attitude that serves as an excellent role model for all of Chuuk’s youth.

2005 15/UNDER LITTLE LEAGUE BASKETBALL

League Organizer Randy Nunez 

Coach for Tol White Rock 

I'm small but I can shoot! 

Watch everyone 'cause its going in! 

3-point shooting contest 

FSM National Basketball Player Keitani Graham with future stars 

Nepukos Team Wins 15/ Under Championship

Ten teams participated in the 2005 15/Under Little League Basketball league. Every Sunday youth from all over Weno met at the gym and played hoops. Today was the championship game and it was exciting.

Before the championship game, Clark Graham, HOOPS' Executive Director, spoke to the teams aboutthe importance of living a healthy and wise life. That includes not chewing betel nut or snuff, no smoking, alcohol or drugs.

Nepukos defeated the AWM Knights and the Tol White Rocks came in third. Congratulations to all teams, players, coaches, supporters, and especially and sponsor AWM.

XAVIER MEN WIN EXCITING CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Xavier time out with 10 seconds remaining 

CHS Boys Take Second Place 

Xavier Boys Win Basktball Title

Yesterday before a packed gym, the Xavier High School (XHS) boys’ team played Chuuk High School to see who would claim the 2005 crown. The game was one of the most exciting ever played in ISC competition with both teams playing hard defense, tough rebounding, and exciting mile-a-minute offense. In the end, the XHS managed to hold on for a one point victory.

Following in the wake of the XHS Lady Navigators championship, Xavier High School now hold both the men’s and women’s basketball titles.

Congratulations to the Interscholastic Sports Council and to all teams for a great season and exciting tournament. Next week the ISC plans to hold its first ever All-Star Game. Both boys and girls all star teams will be selected. Girls will play the first and third quarters, boys the second and fourth, and the combined scores of the girls and boys will determine the All-Star winner.