CNMI indoor v-ball teams work their way to earn spot

Skills alone were not the basis for the selection of the CNMI Under-19 boys and girls All-Star volleyball teams, as players need to work their way in order to secure their spot.

Marianas High School’s Sabrina Pangelinan sets up the ball during their finals match against Saipan International School in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization girls volleyball league last February. Pangelinan is one of the players selected for the CNMI Under-19 girls All-Star team. (Jon Perez)

Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association youth development head of indoor programs Dary Wylie said that before naming the final composition of the team all coaches under the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization held a meeting to nominate two of their “most valuable players.”

“All MISO coaches met and nominated their own two MVPs and one alternate. Then we had a pool of 20 players both in the boys and girls squads,” said Wylie.

“We then deliberated and trimmed down the choices before coming up with the final 16 players for the boys and 18 for the girls,” she added.

Both teams had their first players meeting on May 1 and held practices in between playing in the ongoing Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association Coed Indoor Tournament.

“We explained to them their duties and responsibilities of being an All-Star team member. The boys team, for example, must earn their spot and they showed that in our practices,” said Wylie.

“What we did is we established a point system where they earn points depending on the attitude and commitment they show during practice sessions, fundraisers, and other activities of NMIVA. They keep track of their own points.”

That point system earned Knohlynn Gechig, a member of the CNMI girls All-Star team, last month’s Northern Marianas Sports Association’s Female Student Athlete of the Month.

Gechig, who is part of the girls All-Star team that will be competing in a tournament in Yap set from July 18 to 31, collected 22 points from NMIVA after she showed her leadership skills on and off the court.

NMIVA gives eligibility points to all players based on attending practices, participating in fundraising events, and playing in tournaments for them to remain active and part of the team.

Wylie added that she was also impressed on the hustle and attitude shown by the boys team during practices. “They are all hard workers.”

The boys team, which held a carwash fundraising activity a few weeks ago, will be holding their final practice session tonight from 5:30pm to 8pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium before leaving for Guam early Thursday morning.

Their current fundraising activity is called “Athletes 4 Hire” where the athletes are available to do jobs like babysitting, house work or cleaning, yard work, and tutoring. All money collected will go directly to their fundraising account.

The girls team will have a separate tournament in Guam in October and both teams will travel to Yap in another event from July 18 to 31.

Codie Sayles and TJSHS’ Jonathan San Nicolas join Wylie on the coaching staff.

Grace Christian Academy’s Jonathan Libut and William Hinson; Won Woo Choi, Jae Hyun Lee, and Toshio Takayama of Marianas Baptist Academy; Marianas High School’s Riczi Cano and Karlo De Leon; Quinn Amog and Seokjun Yun of Mt. Carmel School; Saipan International School’s William Fong and Andrew Johnson; Frederick Encabo and James Kintaro of Saipan Southern High School; and Tinian Junior Senior High School’s Elvin Borja, Dachelbai Cruz, and Steven Mahilum are the members of the boys’ team.

Eleven of the 18 players from the girls squad are from MHS led by Gechig, Janlane Imperial, Marcy Ann Ermitanio, Noemy Pamintuan, Jenny Lee, Russell Javan, Beryl Kohnen, Sabrina Pangelinan, Emily Jones, Negahr Rastguiy, and Zarinae Sapong.

SIS’ Jennifer Tan, Adele Hudkins, and Julia Ishikawa, SSHS’ Narleen Siech and Serafina Rogoyawa, GCA’s Danica Canedo, and Mt. Carmel’s Claire Calage are the other members of the girls team.