National Campus Hosts Inter High School Basketball Tournament

Palikir, Pohnpei (January 5, 2014) – The college’s National Campus hosted a inter High School Basketball tournament mid December 2013 last year. Held at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center, 13 teams participated in the tournament, where 10 teams competed in the Men’s division and 3 teams in the Women’s division.

FSM-China Friendship Sports Center during the championship game between PICS and XHS.

Four teams from Pohnpei Island Central School (PICS), Nahnpei Memorial High School (NMHS), Ohwa International Christian Academy (OICA), Our Lady Of Mercy School (OLM), 2 teams from Calvary Christian Academy (CCA), 3 teams from Seventh Day Adventist School (SDA), and Xavier high school (XHS) participated in the tournament.

According to tournament official and COM-FSM Sports and Recreation Coordinator Castro Joab, the intention of the tournament was to promote the college to the high school students as well as to promote healthy life styles to the youth. “This tournament will keep them busy and keep them away from un-healthy vices. We are promoting a healthy lifestyle and if they are caught drinking or using drugs during the tournament they will be automatically kicked out”, Joab added.

Xavier High School Basketball squad.

The only off-island team that participated in the tournament was the Xavier High School team (XHS). According to the XHS coaching staff, “coming here to Pohnpei was a real challenge; the main challenge was the financial aspect of it. But the team and the players had high spirits and through relentless efforts by the players, the team was able to gather enough funds to support the airfare of the entire team. We are really thankful for our generous sponsors without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

XHS competed with Team 1 of PICS for the championships held on December 27, 2013. The FSM-China Friendship Sports Center was packed with supporters of both teams. Cheers and roars from both sides echoed throughout the game. In the end, the PICS basketball squad over powered the XHS team with the score of 76 -60.

MATSON Navigation in Guam donated 10 trophies as awards for the tournament and FSM Health- SAMH Program donated 18 table official uniforms and 12 referee uniforms. Best Buy and Isamu Nakasone Store donated rice and can meats to feed the officials. VPSS office donated water for the officials.