THIS Sunday, the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation is sending NMI boys and girls to compete in the FIBA U15 Oceania Championship on Guam.
The U15 Boys Jr. National Team members pose for a photo with NMI Basketball Federation President James Lee, Head Coach Jake Maratita, Assistant Coach Jose Tudela and Team Manager Mike Mercado during a sendoff ceremony on Tuesday at the Ada gym. The boys will compete in the FIBA U15 Oceania Championship on Guam from Nov. 21 to 26.
The NMI’s U15 Boys Jr. National Team members are Michael Mercado Jr., Jay Pineda, Christian Lucero, Lance Lerio, Leonard Regelado, Jezpher Navarro, Austin Diaz, Slymark Defang, Onick Ragbonshe, Ethan Sablan, Kern Han, and Mjay Capalad. Their head coach is Jake Maratita who will be assisted by Jose Tudela and Preston Basa with Mike Mercado as team manager.
The U15 Girls Jr. National Team members pose for a photo with NMI Basketball Federation President James Lee, Head Coach Marlene Lumabi, Assistant Coach Madeleine Alegre and Team Manager Richelle Kautz during a sendoff ceremony on Tuesday at the Ada gym. The girls will compete in the FIBA U15 Oceania Championship on Guam from Nov. 21 to 26.
The NMI U15 girls are Chealzka Navarro, Aaleyah Fatialofa, Azriel Fatialofa, Angelina George, Andrei Chavez, Mia Abuan, Таміа Ніх, Aiyana Fatialofa, Maria Enriquez, Valerie Estella, Mya Pangelinan and Asa Backe. Their head coach is Marlene Lumabi who will be assisted by Madeleine Alegre. Richelle Kautz will be the team manager.
The last time the NMI competed in a FIBA Oceania Championship was in 2009. This is also the first time for an NMI U15 team to compete in a FIBA Oceania Championships.
NMIBF believes that this is a step in the right direction and proof of progress as the two NMI teams are part of the NMIBF Junior National Program that kicked off early this year.
On Tuesday in the Ada gym conference room, the federation held a sendoff ceremony for the teams and explained the rules to the players’ parents.
“When you go out there, always keep your heads up high, as you are representing the NMI,” NMIBF President James Lee told the players in his remarks.
“Do you best in every game. Most of you will be competing in a high-level tournament for the first time, so observe, understand, and learn from every game you have and every team you will face,” he added.
“Thank you to all the parents who have entrusted their children to us and supported their participation in our NMIBF Junior National Program,” Lee said.
U15 girls Head Coach Lumabi and U15 boys Head Coach Maritita also shared a few words with the players.
“This is a great opportunity, something I never got when I was your age,” Lumabi said. “This opportunity — I hope you guys will maximize it. We’re not there for a vacation, we’re here to play.”
“Discipline plays a vital role,” Maratita added.
The FIBA U15 Oceania Championship will be held on Guam from Nov. 21 to 26.
The NMI U15 boys will be going up against Papua New Guinea on Nov. 22 and against the Federated States of Micronesia on Nov. 23 while the NMI U15 girls will face PNG on Nov. 21 and Guam on Nov. 22.
