NMI, Pohnpei split first two games in basketball friendlies

Ol’Aces’ Eli Aughenbaugh gets rejected by Pohnpei’s Aurelio Pluhs and the ball flies out of the court as he attempts a layup in Day 1 of the 2023 NMI-Pohnpei Goodwill Basketball Games Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

The first night of the 2023 NMI-Pohnpei Goodwill Basketball Games saw some heavy action between the men’s and women’s teams last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

For the NMI, Team Ol’Aces women laced up their basketball shoes and took on the women of Pohnpei in a thrilling game that ended in favor of the home team, 56-37.

Led by Cassandra Camacho’s 12 points and Irish Pagarao’s 11 points, Ol’Aces had a team made up of both youth and experience—with even some who traded their soccer cleats just for that night’s game.

Pohnpei came in hot and was behind by just one point heading into the second period, 8-9, but Ol’Aces, coached by Connie Camacho put their game into overdrive and led by 13 points at the end of the third period, 38-25.

Pohnpei didn’t let up and carried their aggressive game with them until the end—as they were not afraid to go for the steal or body block when they could. Pohnpei’s Vanessa Helgenberger put up 12 markers, assisted by Myra Edward’s 9 points, and Sylvania Seneres-Amor’s 8 points.

In the end, Cassandra and Pagarao’s swift movements and pinpoint accuracy with their shots helped Ol’Aces pull away in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and held off Pohnpei by 19 points, 56-37.

After the women’s game, the Team Ol’Aces men suffered a crushing defeat against a big and mighty Pohnpei men’s team, 79-105.

Though OlAaces led in the first minutes of the game, Pohnpei came bum-rushing into Ol’Aces’ line of defense and caught up to end the first period down by just 1 point, 22-23.

However, Pohnpei continued to strip Ol’Aces defense down to almost rubble and pulled away by 16 points, 56-40 by the end of the second period.

Rejections, steals, and aggressive tactics by Pohnpei overpowered Ol’Aces and reduced them to a quiet fourth period—just 19 points, while Pohnpei shot up from 72 points in the third period to 105 points.

Ol’Aces’ Kevin “The Big Hit” Fitial ended his efforts in the court with 21 points and was tied with Preston Basa after six shots made from 3-point range, while Airson Atan put up 15, and Douglas “Spider” Schmidt had 13 markers.

The women’s Ol’Aces team poses for a photo with the Pohnpei women’s team after the first game of the 2023 NMI-Pohnpei Goodwill Basketball Games last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

For Pohnpei, Aurelio Pluhs scored the highest with 25 markers, followed by Trexler Primo’s 13 points, and Hart Yamada’s and Connor Boylan’s 11 points each.

For the women’s games, Ol’Aces head coach Camacho said that it was a great experience for the team despite not practicing before the tournament. She said the team is composed of her team from the previous 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League and Pagarao’s team, plus four soccer players.

About Pohnpei’s women’s team, she said “they were pretty aggressive. Size-wise, they’re kind of bigger than us. They’re not afraid to body up. It was a good experience for the girls so they can see the competition—how aggressive they are, because in our village league, we’re not as aggressive.”

For Pohnpei’s head coach Randy Helgenberger, he said their team started off pretty well but their shots wouldn’t fall in later. “That’s the game right, you miss them, you make them, then you just have to live with the results.” On the Ol’Aces team, he said “they’re pretty good. I thought they were slow but they picked it up real fast and did pretty well.

On the bleachers watching the game was Pohnpei Sen. Jayson Walter who came down to support the team. As a basketball player himself who played in the CNMI for the Micronesian Games last 2006, he said he was the first person from Pohnpei who came out of the basketball community to become a politician.

As for the game, he said “unfortunately, Pohnpei lost but I give them heart because they’re still high school kids but they came out…and it all worked out. CNMI’s point guard is awesome. She is on a different level than our team.”

Ol’Aces Women 56 – Cassandra Camacho 13, Pagarao 11, Rangamar 10, Mika Lopez 5, Marielle Lopez 4, S. Camacho 4, Alferos 4, Connie Camacho 2, Simram 2,Labausa 1.
Pohnpei Women 37 – Vanessa Helgenberger 12, Joakim 9, Seneres-Amor 8, Edward 5, Ponapart 3.
Scoring by periods: 9-8, 24-16, 38-25, 56-37.

Ol’Aces Men 79 – Fitial 21, P. Basa 21, Atan 15, Schmidt 13, Barcinas 3, Kabiriel 3, T. Basa 3.
Pohnpei Men 105 – Pluhs 25, Primo 13, Yamada 11, Boylan 11, Mallarme 10, Elias 8, Ioanis 7, Helgenberger 6, Miingi 6, Shoniber 4, Torres 2, Aguon 2.
Scoring by periods: 23-22, 40-56, 60-72, 79-105.