‘Redeem Team’ shines with silver finish

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—The NMI National Women’s Basketball Team, or dubbed “Redeem Team” by coach Connie Camacho, indeed redeemed themselves with their silver medal finish in the 10th in the 2024 Micronesian Games last Sunday night.

Despite a big blow in their 34-80 loss against Guam in the finals, the NMI women’s team is back on the podium after falling short in the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap.

It was a slow burn for NMI as Guam outscored them, 9-4 in the first few minutes of the first quarter. But the NMI then kept pace from aggressive takes under the basket by Azzy Fatialofa with assists from Mikki Kautz.

It was the closest the game was at the end of the first, 8-16, as Guam closed their defenses and allowed baskets slim to none.

Guam kept their firepower going throughout the game as NMI continued to fight to get their score on the board moving.

Fatialofa tried her best to use her tall frame to her advantage by pulling in and out of Guam’s defense and get some points on the board. Ultimately, Guam left them powerless as their lead grew and grew until the margin totaled 46 points.

Fatialofa put up 15 points, while California fly-in Alliyah Fernandez scored 11.

In the game before the finals, host Republic of Marshall Islands secured the bronze medal over Chuuk.

Camacho said of their game, “that was very tough—they blew us out but I mean that’s happened before in the 2010 Micronesian Games gold medal game. Their girls have been playing more—they have basic fundamentals, but as for our girls, they’re still growing and it’s their first time playing together.”

As to the girls’ performance and their silver run in the Games, she said, “I can say that as I predicted, we redeemed ourselves—and we’re not just Top 3, we’re Top 2 in Micronesia, so I want them to keep that level.”

She hopes that the NMI women’s team retains their Top 2 seeding for the next Micro Games which is in 2026 in Nauru.

“Hopefully, we continue and develop the same girls or girls that are interested,” she said.

With how the team could develop more, the many-time national player and now first-time coach said, “We have young high school players. They have two years to continue to practice, learn the basics, and just build their IQ because they haven’t really played because there’s no leagues back home. Before we came here we played against boys. But this is a learning experience and we hope to have some of the girls back because we want to beat Guam someday.”

With her first time to coach the national team and if she’ll coach the team again for the next Micro Games, she said, “It’s a learning experience for me too. I have to really be patient. Teaching is different than playing, but we’re at this level and we have to keep playing at this level. So, we’ll see where it goes. I’m looking to coach again but it is very difficult.”

Team captain Irish Pagarao, for her part, said, “We did well. With the young girls, I’m impressed. I’m surprised that they can play—they just need more experience off island. We can’t just stay in our island because they’re not going to know what’s going on outside if they don’t experience outside competition”.

As for the NMI National Men’s Basketball Team, they wrapped up their stint in the Games with a win over Nauru, 76-35.

The NMI settled for seventh place after their 2-2 finish in the Games.

First place was Guam, second place went to Pohnpei, and third place was RMI.