ON Friday and Saturday, the Guam Stingrays basketball club was on Saipan to play friendly matches with NMI teams.
It was NMI Basketball Federation President James Lee who invited the Stingrays as part of his effort to build a closer relationship between the basketball teams of the sister islands.
Lee has also proposed an interisland annual tournament between the two jurisdictions’ high schools with Saipan and Guam alternating as host of the event.
“We wanted to test drive [that idea] and see how it goes,” Lee said. “It’s like what [Northern Marianas Sports Association] President Jerry Tan had in mind for the national teams with a year-round competition such as the Marianas Cup. But for basketball, I wanted to start with high schools.”
Throughout the two-day event, the Guam Stingrays, who consist of female high school players and are led by Coach Arleen Mad, played a total of eight games with NMI teams.
“I love coming to Saipan — I was here for the Pacific Mini-Games and it was awesome,” said Guam Coach Mad who is also the head coach for the Guam women’s national team.
“As far as basketball goes, we are all at the same level and this is good growth for the both of us,” she added. “I don’t know why we don’t have more games like this. I think any time we can get our islands communicating and playing together we can raise each other up.”
Mad said the principles of coaching a high school and a national team are the same: “If we keep the mindset of hard work, perseverance and practice, they will learn the concepts of basketball.”
She said it was the Stingrays’ inaugural trip as a basketball club. “The whole goal has always been growth,” she added. “And it has been tremendous. We know this is only the beginning, but we have big plans. I do want to say thank you to the crowds, fans, players and coaches that came out every day — we loved it. I’m thankful we got the opportunity to play. To the people of Saipan, thank you.”
Lee said “if we want to have a better program, we have to start with this level and build that friendship which we used to have back in the day.”
He said the NMIBF also aims to bring high school boys from Guam next month for another round of friendship games.
Lee said the NMIBF would like to thank the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, the Rollers Club, MHS, KHS, SSHS, Coach Arleen Mad and her team, and the rest of the coaches, players and their parents for making the event possible.
Guam and NMI basketball players pose for a photo after their inter-island friendship games on Saturday at the Koblerville gym.
The NMI’s Azriel Fatialofa gets fouled as she goes up for the shot.
Guam’s Jordin Hernandez extends for the layup.
