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The Week in Sports
CNMI athletes collect medals, post historic wins
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- CNMI players celebrate after beating Macau, 2-1, in the Preliminary Round 1 of the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Centre in Harmon last week. (Guam Football Association)
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- Members of the CNMI Women’s National Team cheer on their male counterparts during the latter’s game against Macau in the Preliminary Round 1 of the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Centre in Harmon last week. (Contributed Photo)
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- The CNMI Men’s National Team players listen while the Commonwealth anthem is being played before their game against Macau in the Preliminary Round 1 of the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Centre in Harmon last week. (Guam Football Association
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- The CNMI’s Rachel Abrams (250) races in the 4x100m relay event last week during the 8th Micronesian Games in Pohnpei. (Kurt Barnes)
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- The CNMI’ Beo Ngirchongor, center, poses for the camera with the gold medal he won in the 400m run in the 8th Micronesian Games in Pohnpei last week. (Kurt Barnes)
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- Members of the CNMI Canoe Team show the medals they won in the 8th Micronesian Games in Pohnpei last week.(Contributed Photo)
In Guam, the CNMI earned historic victories. First to make history was the CNMI Men’s National Team, which bagged its first international win after stunning Macau, 2-1, in the Preliminary Round 1 of the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Centre in Harmon. Next was the Commonwealth’s women’s squad, which registered its first win in an EAFF-sanctioned tournament after a 7-0 rout of Macau in the same qualifying competition.
Emily Maxberry, Alexa Vergara, Carrie Schuler, Gabrielle White, Jeraldine Castillo, and Megan Silberberger scored in the CNMI win. They were joined on the team by Jhaneeka Atalig, Elaine Enriquez, Michelle Masga, Mikky Vargas, Marielle Gariguez, Jeralyn Castillo, Melody Johnson,Diane Pablo, Thea Minor, Elizabeth Phan, Krizelle Mae Tuazon, and Chevy Kate Alipio. Completing the team are head coach Luam Khen Koo, his assistant Wai Wo Lee, goalkeeper coach Chi Ming Tang, and team manager Mae Angeline Ito.
On the men’s side, Nick Swaim and Kirk Schuler scored and were joined on the squad by goalkeeper Johann Noetzel Ethan Dickinson, Trey Dunn, Joe Miler, John Taisacan, Jonathan Takano, Jireh Yobech, Joel Fruit, Daniel Agulto, Sean Perez, Ruselle Zapanta, Jehn Joyner, Kennedy Izuka, Lucas Knecht, Bo Barry, and Dae Won Jeon. Kiyoshi Sekiguchi is the team’s coach and was assisted by Taketomo Suzuki and goalkeeper coach Hon Kit Cheng. Joon Seoung Lee was the team manager.
Over in Pohnpei, the CNMI has hauled 32 medals as of 6pm yesterday, getting 14 golds, 14 silvers, and 4 bronzes in the 8th Micronesian Games.
Majority of the medals came from the Commonwealth’s representatives in the athletics competition, while the CNMI weightlifting team provided a handful. Swimming’s Victoria Chentsova and the Commonwealth’s paddlers were the other medal contributors for Team Marianas. The CNMI’s women’s basketball team and baseball squad are still in the medal race.
The Commonwealth sluggers finished the elimination round of the baseball competition at the Daini Field with a 3-1 record, absorbing their lone loss at the hands of Guam last Thursday, 2-3. The CNMI and Guam were scheduled to battle for the first finals berth yesterday after their original match set for Saturday was cancelled due to rain.
Meanwhile, in local events, on-going basketball leagues on Saipan continued last week. Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan remained perfect in three games in the Inter-Hotel caging, while Blue Haus also kept its clean slate after downing the then undefeated Mariana Resort in the Emon Lodge masters league. In the Tan Holdings caging, Shirley’s Coffee Shop extended its streak to six.
