Basketball team final roster out

Douglas Schmidt, seen here driving against two players during a local league at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, is one of the 12 players named to the CNMI National Team that will compete in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Many-time national coach Elias Rangamar yesterday released the 12-man roster for the CNMI men’s national basketball team that will be competing in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap.

The squad will be led by Dan Barcinas, Preston Basa, Jack Lizama, and Douglas Schmidt Jr., who also represented the Commonwealth in last year’s Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. Dean Blake, Coby Santos, Jeff Deleon Guerrero, Marvin Rabauliman, Aiferson Atan, Geno Libuw, N-Nes Siech, and Christian Mizer are the other members of the team. Mizer is the lone off-island player on the group, but is no stranger to the national squad, having played for the CNMI in the Micronesian Basketball Tournament several years ago.

The 12 were part of the 17 that made the first cut after the two-day open tryout held last February at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Completing the squad are Basa, John Santos, and Keith Nabors, who are part of Rangamar’s coaching staff based on the latest report submitted by the Mariana Islands Basketball Federation to the Northern Marianas Sports Association.

Rangamar, who will also be coaching the women’s team in the Micro Games, said the final 12 was the result of close to two months and six-times a week practice sessions that involved court drills and strength and conditioning.

He added that he likes the team’s chances in the Micro Games, which will be held from July 15 to 27 at the Yap Sports Complex.

“I have a deeper bench this time compared to the last Micro Games (Pohnpei). We just need to work and train harder to prepare for the Games,” the CNMI coach said.

Rangamar again advised players who missed the cut to practice more often to improve their skills and raise the level of their games.

“There were a lot of young players that tried out and did not make the cut. We have a lot of good under 18 athletes this time and that is a good sign for the program,” said Rangamar.

He was also disappointed for Prince Factor, Kelvin Fitial, and Sean Rabasto for not making it to the national team as they often had to skip practice and training sessions due to the conflict with their work and school schedules.

“I can’t force them to skip work or their classes. It was really disappointing not to see them with the national team. They apologized to me for missing a number of practices and I understand them,” said Rangamar.

“That’s their livelihood and their future so they need to prioritize that. I would really love to have them join us, especially Rabasto. That kid has a high basketball IQ and he knows when to shoot and when to pass the ball. Well, there’s always the next Micro Games, they are still young,” the CNMI Sports Hall of Famer added.