Change of schedule a plus for NMI junior cagebelles

CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals coach Elias Rangamar welcomed the changes in schedule of games in the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament saying facing powerhouse Australia last gave them a sigh of relief.

“When you have a very young team and players who will be competing in a tough tournament like the FIBA youth caging for the first time, you don’t want to play the defending champion in your first game,” Rangamar said in an interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday.

“It scares your players, knowing how tough their opponents will be. Somehow, they get demoralized and get cold feet in their first game,” he added.

In the initial schedule released by FIBA Oceania, the CNMI cagebelles were set to face Australia’s Opals, but the new schedule will now pit the Commonwealth bets against Tahiti in their debut game this Sunday.

“The game against Tahiti will not make them feel all those butterflies in their stomachs because Tahiti is not as tough as Australia or Fiji,” Rangamar said.

Australia won the 2006 edition of the youth caging, beating New Zealand, 56-47. Tahiti placed sixth. Fiji was ranked fourth behind third placer New Caledonia.

Since this will be the first time that the CNMI will be sending a women’s team in the FIBA Oceania youth caging, Rangamar said he has not set goals for her cagebelles saying these may just add pressure to them.

“All I ask from them is go out there, play what you were thought to play. Rely on your skills, follow the basics of the sport, and enjoy the opportunity of playing against some of the best players in the region,” Rangamar said.

The CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals are composed of Dion Diaz, Glorily Williams, Jacqueline Wonenberg, Li’Amwar Rangamar, Mercedes Mesa, Nicole Lebria, Nikita Hofschneider, Noelle Calvo, and twin sisters Yvette and Yvonne Bennett.

Tahiti will be led by 2006 Oceania All-Stars Alizee Lefranc, who was the top scorer for Tahiti in the youth tournament in New Zealand, two years ago. Joining her on the team are Haamoe Voirin, Heiura Nena, Herevaea Hamblin, Hinahei Itae-Taata, Oceeane Lefranc, Poenui Tehaamoana, Vairani Tehamoana, and Vanina Potiron.

The Oceania youth caging will run from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 at the University of Guam Fieldhouse in Mangilao.

The CNMI cagebelles are in Pool A of the women’s division, joining Australia, Fiji, and Tahiti. Pool B is composed of Guam, New Caledonia, Palau, and Papua New Guinea.

Preliminary games in each pool will run from Sept. 28 to 30.

All four teams in each pool will advance to the double-elimination playoffs which will start on Oct. 2. The semifinals matches are scheduled for Oct. 3, while the finals game is set for Oct. 4.