NMI cagebelles to compete in March Madness

Mary Kay Alferos, left, is one of the 12 players suiting up for the NMI All-Star Team who are competing in the 2017 March Madness Pacific-Wide Basketball Tournament at the Andersen Air Force Base’s Coral Reef Fitness Center in Guam. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The NMI All-Star Team left for Guam early yesterday morning to play in the women’s division of the 2017 March Madness Pacific-Wide Basketball Tournament that will kick off today at the Andersen Air Force Base’s Coral Reef Fitness Center.

The select team is made up of Irish Pagarao, Jeralyn Castillo, Tawnie Manibusan, Jasmine Phan, Mary Kay Alferos, Chenille Espinosa, Chevy Kate Alipio, Madeleine Alegre, Michelle Kautz, Diane Pablo, Cassandra Camacho, and Ira Palero. They will be coached by Catherine Attao-Toves.
“The team was invited to join the tournament late in February so we have a short time of preparation and players were picked from the teams that saw action in the TanHoldings Christmas basketball tournament,” Attao-Toves said.

The squad practiced twice a week under Attao-Toves’ watch, while they also had a once-a-week session with Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation coach and official and former Saipan Southern High School standout Preston Basa.

“The talent is definitely there so we just had to work on the team chemistry more since the players came from different teams,” said Attao-Toves, who brought in to the squad a few of her players from Mt. Carmel School.

The NMI All-Stars are in Pool A of the women’s division competition, joining the Lady Bombers of Andersen and Guam’s Lady Fuetsa. Pool B has Lady Seahawks, Lady Mustangs, Lady Tooth Fairies, and Lady Stars. The Top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the playoff round.

Attao-Toves’ wards were scheduled to debut against the Lady Bombers yesterday at 9pm, while they will face Lady Fuetsa today at 6pm.

“We have no idea how our opponents play so we just have to make adjustments as the game progresses and work on the offensive and defensive strategies that we practiced on Saipan. This team will work together and do their best to represent the CNMI well,” said Attao-Toves.

This is the first time that a women’s squad from the Commonwealth is playing in the annual tournament. The Hoopaholics and Rollers previously competed in the men’s division of Guam’s version of the NCAA’s March Madness.

This year’s men’s division contest has eight teams. Pool A has Andersen AFC, Kunsan AB of Korea, PAWS 2 Heaven, and Team X-Clusive. Osan Air Base of Korea leads Pool B and will be up against Guam’s Mac Tech Nerds, Tamuning Typhoons, and University of Guam.