NMI-Pohnpei Goodwill Basketball Games starts today

The Pohnpei men’s and women’s basketball teams pose for a photo upon their touchdown in the CNMI yesterday and are welcomed by Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation president James Lee, third from right, and coach Dave Apatang, far right. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

In lieu of the comeback of the Micronesian Baseball Tournament, the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation is hosting the 2023 NMI-Pohnpei Goodwill Basketball Games this week starting today, Monday, July 24.

Pohnpei’s men’s and women’s national teams arrived yesterday and are competing in 5×5 and 3×3 games against six NMI teams: Ol’Aces men and women, U17 Junior Marianas team, and the CNMI men’s and women’s national teams at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 5×5 games between the women’s team of Ol’Aces and Pohnpei is set to start at 5:30pm today, while the men’s Ol’Aces team vs. Pohnpei’s men is set at 7pm.

For tomorrow’s games, the CNMI women’s U17 team vs. Pohnpei is at 5:30pm, while the CNMI men’s U17 team vs. Pohnpei is at 7pm.

On Wednesday, the CNMI women’s national team vs Pohnpei is at 5:30pm, while the CNMI men’s national team faces off against Pohnpei at 7pm.

The 3×3 double-elimination games, sanctioned by FIBA, are set for Thursday and Friday—three teams each from both NMI and Pohnpei. It starts at 5:30pm.

The CNMI U17 men’s team include Michael Mercado Jr., Charlz Sanchez, Gino Asauo, Jezpher Navarro, Reed Camacho, Heman Addy, Marc Tengco, Austin Diaz, M.D. Islam, Ali Ortiz, Kian Helgen, and Lance Lerio. They are coached by Jake Maratita, Jose Tudela, and Preston Basa, and team manager is Mike Mercado.

The CNMI women’s national team is made up of Kaia Travilla, Maddie Alegre, Marlene Lumabi, Mikki Kautz, Angel Roligat, Destiny Pangelinan, Yasmeen Younis, Cassie Camacho, Rae Ramarui, Quina Flores, Fiona Bucalig, and Sha Aina Mendoza, who are coached by Dave Apatang, while the men’s national team consists of Lucio Aldan, Kristian Tapay, Ervin Villarin, John Kae Raquepo, Keith Santos, Coby Santos, Greg Sablan, Jude Sablan, Eli Garcia, Frankie Satur, Jack Aranda, Shane Deleon Guerrero, and Jeff Castro. They are coached by James Lee and Rufino Aguon.

The Pohnpei men’s team includes Glen Torres, Michael Mallarme, Rickson Shoniber, Hart Yamada, Aurelio Pluhs, Trexler Primo, Shawn Aguon, BK Elias, Zack Helgenberger, Makani Damarlane, Holden Ioanis, Connor Boylan, Oppa Miingi, and Jack Jack, and are coached by Benamin Peterson and Cassidy Shoniber.

The Pohnpei women’s team are Caiitlin Nanpei, Keavae Adams, Vanessa Helgenberger, Veronica Helgenberger, Sylvania Seneres-Amor, Kaimi Youngstrom, Myra Joakim, Jaylevonie Kostka, Esther Edward, Charlotte Swingly, Chantel Ekiek, and Latoya Ponapart, who are coached by Randy Helgenberger and Nefertti Davis.

The entrance fee is $2 and will benefit the NMI’s national basketball program.

The CNMI was supposed to host the Micronesian Baseball Tournament this month with teams from Guam, Yap, Palau, and Pohnpei, but only Pohnpei was able to make the trip.