Badminton players and officials pose for a group photo during a press conference in the Azucena Room of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Monday afternoon to discuss the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 and the Century Insurance Saipan International 2025 tournaments.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
THE NMI will host two international badminton tournaments this month — the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 (Aug. 5–10) and the Century Insurance Saipan International 2025 (Aug. 12–16). Team NMI is expected to face top-tier competition, according to the Northern Marianas Badminton Association’s press conference held Monday afternoon at the Azucena Room of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
Present at the event were Badminton Oceania CEO Julie Carrel, Northern Marianas Badminton Association President Merlie Tolentino, Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan, and title sponsors represented by Clayton Darlington (CPRS) and Abilaksha Das (CIC).
Players Mikaela Joy De Guzman of the Philippines, Misha Zilberman of Israel, Shaunna Li of New Zealand, and Dave Odicta of the NMI also shared insights on their preparations and expectations for the upcoming tournaments.
Odicta shared what he and the rest of Team NMI hope to gain from the experience.
He said they expect “to learn something throughout the games and to have fun. Not all the time do we get the opportunity to play against experienced players. And hopefully, in future tournaments, we’ll be playing better,” he added.
Shaunna Li, a returning player, had the opportunity to train with local players prior to the event.
“It’s been an honor to help these players — especially the junior players. I hope to pass some of our knowledge on to them,” said Li.
She further noted how such opportunities are rarely available to players in smaller countries, especially when compared to European nations, and expressed her happiness to contribute.
Back in June, the NMI junior players secured a bronze medal during the VICTOR Oceania Junior Team Championship — a performance Odicta said boosted their confidence. He also acknowledged how Li’s mentorship has helped prepare Team NMI for the upcoming competitions.
“We’ve definitely learned a lot with the help of the New Zealand team, and I’m really thankful for that and the opportunity to be here and represent the NMI,” said Odicta.
Sitting alongside Odicta were Misha Zilberman of Israel — a four-time Olympian who competed in the 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics, finishing 33rd, 14th, and 15th, respectively — and three-time women’s singles champion Mikaela Joy De Guzman, who recently won the singles division of the 2025 Philippine National Badminton Open held on July 12 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
