{"id":401654,"date":"2023-11-20T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=401654"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Team-NMI-pushes-through-in-Honiara-despite-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Team-NMI-pushes-through-in-Honiara-despite-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Team NMI pushes through in Honiara despite challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

HONIARA, Solomon Islands\u2014<\/strong>Team NMI showed their resiliency as a people everywhere they go and even more so in the South Pacific\u2019s Hapi Islands\u2014where internet connectivity is sparse and creature comforts that the team is used to back home is at a minimum\u2014if anything at all.<\/p>\n

Even with the many challenges from the huge undertaking of the Solomon Islanders hosting the Games for the first time, Nick Gross, the team\u2019s chef de mission, provided some updates on the team yesterday morning before the opening ceremony and said that the team is \u201cresilient\u201d and pushing through.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody’s getting situated and getting used to village life as it is. The first 48 hours were certainly a little hectic in transportation and making sure that the team has what it needs to perform at its highest. But it’s to be expected, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

In the athletes village in the Solomon Islands National University Kukum, where the NMI delegation is designated, there are over 1,000 athletes. Overall, there are about 5,000 athletes from 24 Pacific Island nations competing in 24 sports.<\/p>\n

As for the team\u2019s spirit and outlook before opening of the Games, with Gross in communication with each of the 10 team\u2019s managers and coaches, he said, \u201cBy and large, we have a very young team here. The vast majority of our athletes are under 25years old. For many of them, this is the first time that they’ve competed in the Pacific Games, so I think the experience in and of itself can be overwhelming at times. The frustrations of coming from such a developed Northern Marianas to a place like the Solomons, you know, every day is a new day for the Solomons and the organizing committee with the different barriers that are coming up and the things that are making things difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that team Marianas so far has been very resilient and done a great job of kind of rolling with everything. I thank the coaches and the managers again for holding that together and making sure that their athletes understand the complexities of something as big as the Pacific Games. And, I’m just excited to see them all get out there and have the opportunity to compete,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On his thoughts about the first two teams\u2014soccer and tennis that played last Friday and Saturday\u2014he said, \u201cOur men’s tennis team, everybody expects absolutely the best of the best of the best from the Northern Marianas, and this year, we brought a younger squad. Unfortunately, in both of our men’s singles we lost our matches, but we bounced back and our young team of men’s doubles actually beat Vanuatu\u2014so we’re going to take that as a big success for kicking off the tennis tournament with our young squad.\u201d<\/p>\n

For soccer that was played on Saturday, he said the team played against world-ranked Fiji, and that the NMI team \u201cplayed their hearts out. They hustled and flew around the field. It’s just hard when you’re given up about 30 lbs a player and a few inches in height\u2014and then combined with the Fiji team’s experience. They were really fun to watch play. Team NMI had had some rough breaks\u2014there were certainly some goals, I think that we could have prevented, but at the same time, we were awfully proud of the way they played.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the weekend, Saipan Tribune<\/em> caught up with the teams as they settled into their training routines.<\/p>\n

For weightlifting, coach Greg Borja said, \u201cSpirits are high as the athletes prepare for their competition. The camaraderie between our athletes and those from other island nations is unique, in that despite being rivals they are supportive and inspirational to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel San Nicolas arrived Saturday and Leowell Cristobal arrived yesterday just before the opening ceremony. Weightlifting starts today and ends on Nov. 24.<\/p>\n

As for bodybuilding, athlete Christina Tudela said, \u201cThe training and facilities so far are good, especially since we established a workout and recovery routine that works well for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

With how she and teammate Davy Laxa are feeling, she said they are both anxious but eager to compete and get it done. \u201cWhat we\u2019re worried about most is pretty much our diet as our meals haven\u2019t been accommodated and thus negatively impacting our nutrition,\u201d she said. Bodybuilding is a one-day event on Nov. 27.<\/p>\n

Athletics\u2019 Greg Igineof said for them, their training is \u201cnot that bad. They gave us only an hour to do our training on the track and gym, but it\u2019s better than nothing.\u201d Sprinter Theodore Rodgers said that the track where they train, which is also the venue, is nice. \u201cThe blue track doesn\u2019t stain our clothing. It\u2019s very hot though because there\u2019s no shade. The gym is very nice. There\u2019s a lot of weights, water, and waiting space.\u201d The team is now waiting for Nathania Tan who is set to arrive on Nov 24. Athletics is slated for Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.<\/p>\n

Swimming\u2019s coach Richard Sikkel said the team\u2019s daily training has been coming on nicely and they\u2019re excited for their first day of competition today. However, one team member, Michael Miller, fell ill the last couple of days but has visited the clinic a few times to get treated. He has since been feeling well and will attend the opening ceremony. On how to keep the team healthy, Sikkel said, \u201cWell we had hoped to keep them all healthy, but we just need to continue to go to bed early and eat healthy.\u201d Juhn Tenorio arrived last Friday. Swimming will run until Nov. 25.<\/p>\n

For golf, Franco Santos said their training has been great. \u201cWeather is very similar to Saipan which means the humidity is a factor to our game play as we are walking the entire course. We have been going to the driving range on a daily basis until our competition begins. The course is coming together. The staff is working hard to get the course to its best condition before the competition begins. Tomorrow, we start our actual practice round with the other countries. It\u2019s going to be interesting as we will pair up with other countries during the practice rounds.\u201d Golf is from Nov. 22 to 25.<\/p>\n

Va\u2019a\u2019s manager\/athlete Justin Andrew, for his team\u2019s part, said that their training has been going well. \u201cThank God we came a little early because the team is now acclimated and getting used to the schedule. The venue is coming together\u2014we\u2019ve been there a couple of times\u2026 we have a young team here with us. I\u2019m so glad we have a young team. They adapt very well and very quickly\u2014so, I think we\u2019ll do well.\u201d Va\u2019a is from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

Triathlon\u2019s lone wolf Leo Wania said he trains with the swim team in the pool and he\u2019s got to take a look at the bike and running route. Wania undertakes a 400m swim, then a 10km bike, and tops it off with a 2.5km run. Triathlon is scheduled from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

Beach volleyball\u2019s two athletes, Andrew Johnson and Logan Mister, are coming in next week, but coach Tyce Mister and team manager Chris Nelson have already taken a look at the training grounds and venue. Beach volleyball is set from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Team NMI\u2019s chef de mission Nick Gross speaks in a manager\/coach\u2019s meeting yesterday morning before the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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<\/p>\n

Some of NMI\u2019s va\u2019a and some of the athletics members watched the NMI Men\u2019s National Soccer Team play against Fiji in their debut last Saturday in Honiara, Solomon Islands.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

The NMI va\u2019a and tennis teams showed up in support of the Men\u2019s National Soccer Team during their Pacific Games debut against Fiji last Saturday in Honiara, Solomon Islands.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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