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Camacho hopes to keep U15 team intact
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Posted on Jul 06 2011
Many-time CNMI Women’s Nationals member Connie Camacho wishes to keep the Commonwealth’s U15 girls team together for future tournaments.
Camacho steered the CNMI cagebelles to a silver-medal finish in the 2011 Micronesian Basketball Tournament in Palau late last month despite having only nine players on the team. The CNMI won over Palau and Belau and lost in the finals to a complete Guam squad.
A few weeks after their impressive performance in Palau, Camacho gathered the team again and they are now playing in the 2011 BANMI Women’s Summer Basketball League.
“My goal is to keep the team together for future leagues and tournaments. As you already know, we our hosting the U17 MBT and I believe if this group of girls stick together, they will make a big difference in the tournament next year,” Camacho said.
The CNMI U15 Team is composed of Jeraldine Castillo, Rachel Abrams, Kaylani Lebria, Denise Samson, Kyla Ito, Kriz Gozon, Melody Johnson, Carey Demapan, and Theodora Falcon.
Camacho said keeping the team for years will give the CNMI cagebelles a better chance of ruling tournaments and beating powerhouse Guam.
“I think consistency with our national team is what we’re lacking and now we have the chance to work with this young group of girls who have bonded really well on and off the court. We did not beat the Guam team because they’ve been playing together for a while but give this group another year or so and they will definitely be a challenge to Guam,” the Hopwood Junior High School teacher said.
The MBT in Palau was Camacho’s debut in coaching a national squad and she was thankful to coach a bunch of young girls.
“I have to say it was very challenging and rewarding. I learned so much from the U15 women’s team. They are very coachable, as they listened, learned, and produced. From Game 1 to the championship, this team made adjustments and improvements to better themselves and their teammates. Also, they played unselfishly which is another factor that made them better players,” Camacho said.
