‘Still a lot of work to be done’

Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation president James Lee takes a selfie while posing with the CNMI national men’s and women’s teams during the awards ceremony of last month’s 2022 FIBA Micronesian Cup in Guam. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO )

The Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation heralded its return to regional hoops by finishing with a silver medal in the women’s and a bronze medal in the men’s competition of last month’s 2022 FIBA Micronesian Cup in Guam.

But NMIBF president James Lee isn’t content with the second place and third place finish in CNMI basketball’s first action in a regional tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic essentially halted inter-island sports competition the past couple of years.

 “Overall, I am proud of our athletes and also our coaches for their achievements and performance and more so of their representation for the CNMI. There is definitely still a lot of work to be done and always room to improve. However, our coaches and athletes gave us their very best given the short amount of time that we had with the restructuring phase of the basketball federation and the newly implemented national programs. Not to mention the many challenges that we had faced such as COVID-19 and lack of facilities to train.”

The CNMI Women’s National Team settled for the silver medal after falling to host Guam, 37-70, in the championship game, while the CNMI Men’s National Team salvaged the bronze medal after repeating against the Federated States of Micronesia, 82-78. Both the men’s and women’s tournaments were held at the University of Guam Calvo Fieldhouse.

The 2021 NMSA Administrator of the Year also took the opportunity to thank his fellow officials in the NMIBF and the organization’s sponsors for making the national team program a success. 

“On behalf of the NMI basketball federation, I want to give a special thanks to all our supporters, because without them we wouldn’t have been able to even have a basketball team to represent our home. Whether it was their monetary donations to help us fund our trips and all the expenses that come with it, to allowing us to use their facility so that our athletes can continue to train.”

Lee also extended his kudos to the Northern Marianas Sports Association and its president Jerry Tan, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and FIBA Oceania and its executive director Amanda Jenkins and development manager Annie La Fleur for their continuous support  and guidance.

“All the programs and grants that were offered and given to the NMI basketball federation were instrumental to where our federation is today. The FIBA Elite Women’s Program was also a product of our national women’s team success,” he added.

The NMIBF president also gave credit to the mentorship of coaches Joe Diaz, Keith Nabors, Catherine Attao Toves, and Dave Apatang as well as the national players for their time and  dedication for the federation and for the Team NMI. 

“Aside from bringing home the medals, know that what you have accomplished is not just the wins at the last FIBA Micro Cup. You all have helped the NMI basketball federation establish a standard on what it means to be in the national program/team. You all have helped lay the foundation for the future athletes as well as our future coaches,” he said.

The CNMI Men’s National Basketball Team was made up of Donovan Brennan, Eli Aughenbaugh, Chioni Dela Cruz, Greg Sablan, Leo Naraja, Shane Deleon Guerrero, Lucio Aldan, Frankie Satur, Jeff Castro, Sir Lashu Dela Cruz, and captain Coby Santos.

The CNMI Women’s National Basketball Team, meanwhile, was composed of Marlene Lumabi, Michelle and Richelle Kautz, Kaia Travilla, Azriel Fatialofa, Fiona Bucalig, Angellyn Roligat, Destiny Pangilinan, Gabrielle Race, E’Anna and Ky’Sonne Won, and captain Madeleine Alegre. Santos and the Won sisters also wound up in the FIBA Micro Cup mythical team.