Cage belles hit tryouts for Micro Games

Slots for the CNMI Women’s National Basketball Team to the Micronesian Games are expected to be filled by May. However, the push to secure those slots has already begun.

About 18 cage belles laced up and took part in Saturday’s tryouts at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, and according to head coach Elias Rangamar, two cuts will be made before the final one in May.

“I know there’s more that didn’t make it to the tryouts, but I’m looking at making my first cut on March, another in April, and the final will be on May to give others a chance,” he said, citing that several players who are off-island have expressed interest in trying out.

Rangamar said the first session mostly dealt with fitness and physical tests.

“We did a lot of fitness tests,” he said. “We only touched the ball on one drill and rest was physical fitness stuff.”

Rangamar added that with the 18 players tried out and more players expected to take part in the coming sessions, the 12 slots that will make up the team will be fought hard for.

“I think it will be intense competition for the slots,” he said. “There’s more players and some veterans that didn’t make it, so I think it will be an interesting process.”

Among the veterans who suited up for the tryout were former National team players Connie Camacho, Tanya Cabrera, and Dena Ngirchongor.

Rangamar said although his coaching staff will have the tough task of trimming the number of players down, cage belles who are cut could still take part in the training to improve their skills.

“If they’re cut, they’re welcome to still come and practice with the team,” he said.

Rangamar had earlier said that for the next two to three months, 60 percent of the work will focus on conditioning, with workouts on the track oval at the Oleai Sports Complex. Conditioning sessions will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with Tuesdays and Thursdays reserved for indoor workouts. Players will then scrimmage on Saturdays.

Indoor drills and training will increase to three days a week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—on April with conditioning decreasing to two days a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Players who make the final cut will then focus on plays on May and June.

Assisting Rangamar are Garapan Rollers coach Joe Diaz and Matansa Sparks coach George Cruz.