‘Top 3 is the goal for NMI women’s basketball’

The NMI National Women’s Basketball Team is out for redemption in the 2024 Micronesian Games in Majuro, Marshall Islands.

Since 1998, the women’s national team has medaled in the Micronesian Games with the exception of the 2018 Games.

After that fall in the 2018 Games in Yap, head coach Connie Camacho said she expects the team to “be competitive and to redeem ourselves by placing NMI Women’s Basketball as one of the top three teams in Micronesia.”

She said that the biggest challenge for their podium run will be the back-to-back games and the young players ability to learn quickly and adapt under pressure.

Their strengths, Camacho said, is their height with centers Azriel Fatialofa and Madeleine Alegre, and “the experience that we bring with players that have played in the past Micronesian Games.”

The final touches of training before competition were polishing up their offense and defense, as well as adjusting and learning how to play with fly-in Alliyah Fernandez, who will practice with the team for the first time today.

As for their team’s pool, Camacho said that Palau pulled out their team so they expect changes in their pool play. Basketball competitions are slated for Monday, June 17 until Sunday, June 23.

The team’s 11-woman roster with Fatialofa, Alegre, and Fernandez, are Sylvina Simram, Yasmeen Younis, Kaia Travilla, Michelle Kautz, Lia Rangamar, Destiny Pangelinan, Lalaine Pagarao, and Cassandra Camacho.

The selection process for the team, according to coach Camacho, was based on an assessment matrix and several tools that were used to evaluate each player’s athleticism, positional skillset, attitude, and coachability. She said, “The players were graded on a scale of 1-10 and a cut was made with 10 players originally on the roster. Factors, such as off-island recruitment, played a factor on available spots as well.”

The coaching staff with Camacho includes her mentor Elias Rangamar, who is also the NMI National Athletics coach.

She said Rangamar “has been instrumental in the development of Women’s Basketball here in the CNMI. He is very supportive in my role as a head coach and passionate in developing our women’s program. If we are talking about bringing home medals, the CNMI Women’s Basketball, Coach Eli and I, so far are four of five. I think our chances are pretty good.