On initial cut, Coach Elias Rangamar picked Jacque Wonenberg, Yvonne Bennet, Noelle Calvo, Lia Rangamar, Nicole Lebria, Dion Diaz, Mercedes Mesa, Blesse Sablan, Tanishia Masga, and Jenequa Benavente.
He also chose Kaylani Lebria and Nikita Hofschneider as alternate players.
Aside from experience in the court in previous basketball leagues, these female cagers mostly high school girls, have gone through further training since the tryout started last month at the Marianas High School Gym.
However, Rangamar said the draftees still have to go through another two weeks of practicing basic ball plays before they will come up with the final picks.
He said they will have the final line up by Aug. 16.
Rangamar said they will make the selection based on how the girls have a grasp of different strategies in the court.
Rangamar is confident that the girls will pass the remaining tests and make all the way to the final draft, as all of them have shown good performance in local basketball leagues and other sports events over the past few years.
Calvo for one, was awarded most valuable player for Mt. Carmel School that placed second in the recently held Coalition of Private School Sports Association Basketball League.
Yvonne Bennett who played for Kagman Ayuyu in the Marianas Interscholastic Basketball League was among those included in the top 10 athletes in the 2008 Oceania Grand Prix Series last June.
Bennett who just turned 18 last month holds NMI record in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter runs. She has reset the NMI record in 100-meter run three times and broke her own in 200 and 400 meters.
Wonenberg is a gold medalist in the 2008 Oceania Championship being the fastest in the 100 Meter Hurdles Under 18 and placed second in women high Jump.
And among the draftees, 5’ 6” Wonenberg is the tallest.
Lia Rangamar and Jenequa Benavente also did excellent performances in the Oceania tournaments. Rangamar also played for Grace Christian Academy in private school league.
Nicolle Lebria also played in Private school league for MCS while Diaz was Bennett’s team mate in Kagman Ayuyu in MISO.
Coach Rangamar said the tryout for female basketball is still open as they now plan to develop a basketball program for women.
The training staff for Oceania started from 16 female players last month.
