Marianas Variety learned yesterday that there were try outs for the NMI team that went to Palau for the 7th Micronesian Games more than 4 months before the competition day.
One of the players was interviewed by the Variety yesterday. “Work hard, practice hard, and have fun” said Lalaine Pagarao, “That’s how we all got chosen. That’s how we got through.”
Practice was every day from 530AM until 7 in the morning. In the afternoon the practice was from 4 PM to 6PM at the Gilbert C. Ada gymnasium.
Behind the women’s basketball team was a very hard working coach by the name of William Sewell. He coached the women and was also their inspirational speaker and motivator during the Micro games.
More than three months prior to the games the team already had a daily ritual that started up their practices with stretches followed by a run every day at the track or around the gym.
To train them and sharpen their basketball skills the coach had them challenge each other and scheduled scrimmages between the NMI’s boy’s basketball team to hone their talents.
Some of the players for the NMI girl’s basketball team were Connie Camacho, Leah Rangamar, Ira Palero, Jamie Mendoza, Jacque Wonenberg, Yvonne Bennet, Jenequa Benavente, Lily Williams, and Lalaine Pagarao.
According to Pagarao when they arrived in Palau it was so beautiful and quiet. Soon after their arrival time coach Bill had them do a round of scrimmage to prepare them. And since then, every other day, they had practice in order for them to get used to the surroundings and the court that they would play in.
Day one they challenged Palau and lost, day two they challenged Chuuk and dominated, Day three they challenged Marshall Islands dominating also eventually moving them forward to the semi finals. Again they were pegged up against Palau slipping past them by three points.
For the gold medal, they challenged team Guam and unfortunately they lost but team NMI did not go down without a fight. “They were just a little taller and a little faster but we’ll get them next time.” Pagarao said.
Pagarao is looking into joining the next micro games in 2014 is she comes back from the Philippines. Like the Bennet sisters, she told the variety that she needed to move on with her life and she would pursue a degree in the Philippines and if opportunity comes around she would grab it and come back home to Saipan.
