[sixcol_five_last]

The Matao pose for a full team photo during its Southeast Asian tour in November. Front row, from left to right (seated) are Julius Campos (Equipment Manager), Ian Lawton (Team Physiotherapist), James Okuhama (Asst. Coach), Gary White (Head Coach), Dominic Gadia (Asst. Coach), Joseph Roberto (Team Manager); middle row, from left to right: Dylan Naputi, Ian Adamos, Scott Leon Guerrero, Erik Ustruck, A.J. DeLaGarza, captain Jason Cunliffe, Ryan Guy, Micah Paulino, Jonahan Romero, Mark Chargualaf; back row from left to right: Douglas Herrick, John Matkin, Shawn Nicklaw, Travis Nicklaw, Joshua Borja, Ian Mariano, Bijan Gloston.
PRESS RELEASE – Following its three-match undefeated streak, the Matao soared another eight places to finish 2013 at No. 161 in the latest release of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, now the team’s highest-ever ranking to date.
“Just a month ago, I was applauding the Matao for breaking the 160s and now, we’re inching closer to the 150s, which is the team’s goal in 2014,” said Richard Lai, Guam Football Association president. “I’m very proud of Guam’s overall success in 2013 – it’s been quite a remarkable year for us and I look forward to what we can achieve in 2014. To hear the great news a day before the National Academy will hold its graduation, I’m even more excited for the future of our young athletes now.
“On behalf of GFA, I’d like to express my appreciation for all the support we’ve continued to receive from all of our local business sponsors and the community throughout the years,” Lai added.
The Matao’s undefeated streak dates back to March 6 after the team crushed Chinese Taipei 3-0 in an AFC Challenge Cup qualifier match in Yangon, Myanmar. Last month, the team was forced to a 1-1 draw with higher-ranked Laos and later shut out Cambodia 2-0 in Phnom Penh. Before 2012, Guam had won only twice against FIFA-member nations – a 1-0 shut out of Mongolia and 2-0 match against American Samoa. In just the last two years alone, the Matao already has posted two times as many wins.
“With everything we’ve achieved so far, now it’s a matter of how we’ll continue to build on this success,” said Gary White, Matao head coach. “With every international match, Guam continues to get stronger. Posting wins against countries we’ve never beaten before and the continued upward movement in FIFA rankings proves this. We’re working on lining up more international matches in the coming year and look forward to continue to raise the standard of Guam football. Today’s team is blazing a trail for our young athletes now in the National Academy and instilling the belief that anything is possible with enough hard work and determination.
“Guam is my third FIFA international country as a head coach and the support I get from GFA President Richard Lai and the GFA Executive Committee is unique at the international level. We are a great team,” White added.
A total of 10 members of the current Matao team play in professional leagues abroad, while others on the team currently play for U.S. college soccer teams. Three of the youngest members of the Matao earned college scholarships and made their way to the U.S. collegiate soccer stage for the first time in 2013 – Thaddeus Atalig, Christian Schweizer, and Jordan Gregory. The three players had contributed greatly to the Matao before heading to their respective colleges and inspired by the increased success of the team, the trio will look to follow in the footsteps of current professionals like the Matao’s star defender A.J. DeLaGarza, who also plays for four-time MLS Cup winner L.A. Galaxy, White said.
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/uncategorized/guam-now/ ” type=”button”][fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/uncategorized/guam-now/ ” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last][useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=53, 38, 83, 86 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68

Running/Track
’23 TRACK SEASON OPENS

Volleyball
H.S. BEACH VOLLEYBALL IN FULL SWING
