By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
AS 2025 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the most memorable sports achievements by NMI athletes, teams, and organizations in local and international competitions.
2025 Pacific Mini Games
The athletes of Team Marianas were recognized for their contributions and hard work during the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, held in Palau from June 29 to July 9. Team Marianas captured 10 gold, 8 silver, and 13 bronze medals, set 41 new national records, and achieved numerous personal bests — marking one of the most successful Pacific Mini Games campaigns in the team’s history.
Among the highlights was Tania Tan, who earned her second medal by cruising past six opponents in the women’s half marathon. The 24-year-old runner had previously won gold in the 10,000m on July 4 and bronze in the 5,000m. Tan finished the 21.1 km race in 1:28:40, breaking her own NMI record of 1:29:11 set in 2023 during the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. She was the only runner in the women’s division to complete the race in under one and a half hours, with second-place Natalia Prado Alfonso of New Caledonia clocking 1:32:11, and Solomon Islands’ Dianah Matekali finishing third at 1:32:29.
Another milestone came in basketball. The NMI women’s 3×3 team won a historic bronze medal, defeating PNG in a come-from-behind match. This marked the first medal for NMI in either 3×3 or 5×5 basketball at the Pacific Games or Mini Games.
In swimming, 19-year-old Isaiah Aleksenko emerged as a standout star, winning six gold medals across backstroke, butterfly, and individual medley events. His 200m butterfly time of 1:58.52 broke the two-minute barrier, showcasing NMI’s rising talent against regional powerhouses.
Historic win
The NMI U20 Women’s National Team made history in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers with a 3-0 victory over Bahrain — their first win in any AFC tournament. Striker Kaithlyn Chavez scored twice and assisted Summer Manahane for the third goal.
From the opening whistle, NMI played with confidence. Chavez sliced through Bahrain’s defense for the first goal just past the 20-minute mark. Mia Abuan marshaled a strong defense to keep Bahrain at bay, and Chavez’s skillful play set up the second and third goals in the 83rd minute and during added time, respectively.
Despite losses to Uzbekistan (8-0) and Jordan (6-1), the historic win over Bahrain was a highlight for NMI’s growing football program.
Bronze in junior badminton
Team NMI clinched the bronze medal at the Victor Oceania Junior Team Championships 2025 with a 4-1 victory over Guam at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium in June. Dave Odicta and Shaina Malonzo won in straight sets against Guam’s Yu Xia and Offeia Yordy, while Lina Tsukagoshi bested Kristine Deng in another straight-sets victory.
In the men’s singles, Allan Zeng of Guam narrowly defeated Malon Bautista 15-13, 15-12. NMI rebounded in the men’s doubles, with Jude Mallari and Dave Odicta securing the win 15-10, 15-11. The NMI team finished with three overall wins, including victories over Tahiti, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, falling only to undefeated Australia and New Zealand.
Coach Nate Guerrero praised the players: “It feels really good — extra special. Our kids played hard and worked hard.” Co-coach Janelle Pangilinan added: “Everyone was our toughest opponent. But after beating Fiji, we knew the next challenge was coming. This was our first time in a U19 competition, and two years later, here we are, winning a bronze medal.”
Guam Cross-Country Meet
Team NMI’s cross-country athletes delivered standout performances at the Asia Pacific International Cross Country Championship 2025 in Guam in October. The mixed-gender relay team finished fourth out of 11 complete teams, with Addalee Taflinger and Victor Nash Santos securing third place overall among 67 pairs.
Individual runners also shined in the 5K races. Victor Nash Santos finished eighth in the boys division (17:36.3), while Addalee Taflinger placed sixth in the girls division (22:17.5). Collectively, all NMI boys placed within the top 51 of 128 runners, and all NMI girls placed within the top 61 of 94 runners.
Coaches Angela and Chad Taflinger praised the athletes for setting personal records and pushing themselves through challenging terrain, including the sandy beach portions of the course. They highlighted the teamwork and resilience of students from multiple schools, including Saipan International School, Marianas High School, Agape Christian School, and Grace Christian Academy.
Angela Taflinger noted: “It is an amazing opportunity for runners who want to advance their ability and take it to the next level!” Chad Taflinger added: “We look forward to our next chance to showcase what our young NMI running core has to offer the Asia Pacific region.”
Milestones
Despite challenges in air travel, competition, and resources, NMI athletes, teams, and organizations achieved historic milestones in 2025. From record-breaking performances in the Pacific Mini Games to historic wins in football, badminton, and cross-country, the Commonwealth’s sports programs continue to grow, inspire, and demonstrate resilience on both local and international stages.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
