U23 women’s team eyes extending win streak
The NMI U23 Women’s National Team is hoping to make it three in a row when it faces Guam in the Marianas Football Cup that will kick off today at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
The NMI female squad won the last staging of the Marianas Football Cup before the pandemic hit, as it shut down Guam, 3-0, in 2019 in their U19 division game at the Guam National Training Center in Dededo. In 2018, when Saipan hosted the Marianas Cup at the newly-built NMISTC, the NMI U19 women’s crew also prevailed, escaping with a 3-2 victory.
Guine Borja was part of the 2018 and 2019 winning teams and will be making her fourth appearance in the Marianas Football Cup—the most by any NMI female player—as she also suited up in the 2017 edition of the competition. Joining Borja on the NMI U23 Women’s National Team’s roster are her co-captain Dianne Pablo, Mia Abuan, Bernadette Horey, Aubrey and Audrey Castro, Khristelle Itaas, Jannah Casarino, Katrina Costales, Summer Manahane, Kaithlyn Chavez, Dehesa Mendiola, Jerlyn Castillo, Pia Ngewakl, Rizza Relucio, Tamia Hix, Sophia Quintos, Stephanie Flores, and Kelsey McClellan. Olympian Luam Khen Koo is the team’s head coach and will be assisted by Jimmy Tang, while Angie Ito and Emma Lee are the team and assistant team managers, respectively. Hazel Mabasa is the team’s physiotherapist.
Asked if she is feeling the pressure of delivering the NMI’s its third victory in a row and doing it in front of the home crowd, Borja said the team viewed the pair of matches against Guam as an honor more than a pressure. Borja and company will duel Guam U23 women’s team today, Aug. 3 at 5:30pm, while their second match will take place on Aug. 5, this Saturday at 8:30pm.
“It’s always an honor to play for the NMI, especially if you are playing at home and have more crowd support. As for pressure, I don’t feel that much because I have confidence in my teammates and we have prepared enough to go through every challenge in the game. That’s the beauty of a team game, you know you can count on your teammates and work together to achieve your goals,” said Borja, who plays for Louisiana Christian University in the collegiate ranks and joined the team’s training sessions this summer.
After having played in the previous three editions of the Marianas Football Cup and adding her experience in the collegiate league, Borja acknowledged being entrusted with the leadership role on the NMI U23 Women’s National Team.
“The focus now is not the personal goal, but more of team goal, on how my leadership can keep the positive energy of the team,” Borja added.
Pablo, meanwhile, will be making her second Marianas Football Cup appearance after debuting in the event with Borja in 2017 in Guam. She is excited to play in her first home game for the Marianas Football Cup and believes the team, though very young, have shown significant improvement the past two years, especially on the technical side.
“This improvement was evident when we played in the Marianas Soccer League last season and we just have to work on those positive aspects of our game come match time against Guam to be able to keep the Marianas Football Cup title here,” Pablo said.
Koo shared Pablo’s observation, noting how the players have shown strong commitment to the program.
“They’ve been training very hard and are committed to the national team. We also have players returning from college and their leadership and experience are a big help to the team. The team is also showing good chemistry and that’s very important,” Koo said.
After the match between the NMI U23 and Guam U23 women’s teams at 5:30, the men’s crews of the two islands will collide in the 8:30pm game tonight. This year’s Marianas Football Cup is supported by Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, USA Fanter, Triple J, IT&E, Quality Distributors, GPPC, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, D&Q, TakeCare Insurance, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and Island Apparel. (PR)
Marianas Cup Player
