Eli hands coaching post to Tumaquip

Elias Rangamar did not join the CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals in Guam for the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament, instead allowing his deputy Jose Tumaquip to call the shots for the Commonwealth cagebelles’ debut Sunday.

Rangamar said he could not join the team due to work and other commitments, but he believes the CNMI cagebelles are in good hands.

“Jose has been my assistant coach the past two years. He knows how to run our plays and the girls are comfortable with him,” Rangamar said.

“Besides, it’s about time that a young coach like him experience what it is like to coach a team in a tough tournament like the FIBA Oceania youth event,” he added.

Tumaquip lost his coaching debut in the FIBA caging, as the CNMI cagebelles bowed to Tahiti, 30-101.

The game maybe a blowout, but Rangamar said he was pleased on how the CNMI cagebelles executed their trapping defense against the much taller and much experienced Tahiti players.

“Jose called me and said Tahiti gave up against our girls’ trapping defense so Tahiti sort of changed its offensive formation. We have a quick team so Jose decided to go for a press. The defense worked in the fourth quarter, as Tahiti’s offense slowed down a bit,” Rangamar said.

“Coach Jose and I are not concerned on how many our girls will score. We’re more focused on how our girls will execute our play and show and skills we thought them during the training,” Rangamar said.

The CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals had eight players scoring against Tahiti with Nicole Lebria leading the way with 10 points.

Lia Rangamar added eight, Noelle Calvo chipped in five, and Yvonne Bennett, Nikita Hofschneider, and Jacque Wonenberg had two markers each. Dion Diaz scored a free throw.

Alizee Lefranc paced Tahiti with 32 points, while Luci Matohi contributed 25 markers.

Tahiti was ahead by 17 points after the first period, 25-8, and increased the lead to 37 at halftime, 51-14.

The CNMI cagebelles showed their best offensive form in the third period, firing 13 markers, but Tahiti was still ahead by a big margin, 83-27.

The CNMI bets had their lowest output in the fourth, making only three points.

The CNMI cagebelles were facing Fiji in their second game in Pool A at the University of Guam Fieldhouse at press time. They will play their last game in Pool A today against defending champion Australia.