Cage belles working for slots in Micro Games team

With the Micronesian Basketball Tournament put on hold, local cage belles now turn their focus on qualifying for the 2006 Micronesian Games.

Only four and a half months remain before the quadrennial event returns to Saipan, and with National team coach Mike Muna expecting to release the roster of the team by the end of next month, a lot of work awaits the islands’ women basketball players.

Last Tuesday, the lady ballers continued to work on improving their skills and physical fitness at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium, sharing the court with the men who are also looking to play at the Micro Games.

Veterans such as Connie Camacho, Dena Ngirchongor, Arcy Moncrief, and Emy Oiterong were among those in attendance, and although the training began with ease, the girls certainly had their work cut out for them as they soon found themselves doing drills that tested their endurance.

Muna and men’s head coach Rufino Aguon worked together in providing a training program for the girls, who were tasked with doing suicides, push ups, sit ups, and an endurance run in the two-hour session.

CNMI women’s basketball teams have had success in previous regional competition, recording consecutive bronze-medal finishes in the past two Micronesia Basketball Tournaments.

The CNMI had two teams training for the MBT, which was scheduled for this month but was postponed as other participating countries have yet to secure funding for their expenses.

“With the MBT postponed, we’re looking at combining the two teams, but anyone who wants to play, just come over and if you’re committed, that’s a plus. We’re looking for players that are dedicated and committed,” Muna said.

In hopes of assembling the best team possible to play in the Micro Games, Muna is inviting all interested cage belles to tryout for the team.

Tryouts are held every Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm at the NMC Gymnasium. Muna, however, said he is currently searching for another venue as the NMC Gym is being used by both the men’s and women’s teams.

“We need to find another venue because Rufino is using the court and he is also training the guys,” Muna said. “The Gilbert C. Ada Gym is now being used from Monday to Thursday every week for the Inter-Government league, and we need to find a place.”