CNMI women’s cage team has right pieces

The Lady Ol’Aces’ Lia Rangamar, third left, is surrounded by Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan defenders during their game in the MIBF island-wide caging last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Rangamar made it to the CNMI Women’s National Team that will compete in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap this July. (Jon Perez)

Veteran basketball coach Elias Rangamar believes the recently named women’s national squad has all the qualities he’s been looking for in a team that could go up against the regions’ best, especially versus powerhouse Guam, in the 9th Micronesian Games.

Rangamar said that Guam remains the team to beat, but he does not discount the other squads since the Micro Games is another level of play.

“The Marshall Islands, Palau, and Pohnpei are perennial teams that we have to also watch out for. Though not as physical as the Pacific Games, it’s [the Micro Games] still a more competitive and physical game than what we’re accustomed to at the local level. Fortunately, we have experienced players that are tournament tested,” the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation official said.

Among the 12 players Rangamar selected for the team, five played for the squad that competed in the Micro Games in Pohnpei four years ago.

Aside from having veterans on his crew, Rangamar said that this women’s team could be the tallest the CNMI would be sending to the Micro Games, with four players standing at least 5’8″. However, he was quick to point out that height alone does not guarantee a win for the squad.

“You have to have athleticism, toughness, basketball skills, and experience. And I think that this squad is probably closer to having all these qualities than the previous team,” Rangamar said.

He and his assistant coaches—Preston Basa, John Santos, and Connie Camacho—made their deliberation and selection last Sunday with Rangamar choosing the off-island players.

Rachel Abrams, Jamie Mendoza, Ira Palero, Jan Travilla, and Glorily Williams are currently studying in the U.S. and they are expected to join the seven players based here once they are done with their classes this semester. Abrams, Mendoza, and Palero played for the CNMI national women’s team in 2014 together with Irish Pagarao and Lia Rangamar, while sisters Annalei and Eilena Santos, Casandra Camacho, Tazha Deleon Guerero, and Alliyah Fernandez join Travilla and Williams on the first-timers list in the quadrennial meet.

Connie Camacho, who has donned the CNMI national colors a number of times and was enshrined to the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame this year, according to Rangamar, was a bit disappointed for missing what could be her final Micro Games. However, Rangamar said they are still counting on Camacho’s help.

“I just thought that we’d give some of the up-and-coming talents some experience. Connie is a great competitor and she is still probably a better shooter than any of the girls we have. Her experience will certainly help us from the sidelines,” he added.