BANMI President Elias Rangamar said there are 16 female players attending the tryouts for two weeks now at the Marianas High School but the NMI who will be having women’s team in basketball for the first time, is facing big challenges.
The Oceania Youth Tournament will be held on Guam in September where different basketball teams of boys and girls 19 years old and under from different Pacific countries and territories will compete.
Rangamar admitted NMI’s first batch of women basketball team lacks not only the height but enough training and experience. None of those attending the tryouts have experienced playing in the off- island basketball leagues representing NMI.
However, there’s a good thing about having the Oceania Youth Tournament this year. Rangamar said it led the BANMI to come up with a women program for which they now start looking for sponsors.
At the MHS Gym after the tryout schedule yesterday, assistant coach Jose Tumaquip said the girls are learning everything basic in basketball.
With eight weeks to go he said they have started to see the potentials of the girls attending the tryouts.
So, Tumaquip said he certain that they will have 10 players fit to complete the NMI team.
Even the six that will not be selected can still have the chance to be team members as they can be reserves in case any of the picks suffers injury during the practice the will start next week.
Most of the aspiring NMI cagers are from the MISO girls teams and those who played in the recently held Private school basketball league.
They include Kagman Ayuyu’s Yvonne Bennet and Dione Diaz and MHS’ Jacque Wonenberg who will be the tallest team member.
Noelle Calvo and Nicolle Lebria of Mount Carmel School Lady Knights and Lia Rangamar of Grace Christian Academy are also trying out.
