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By Patrick Lujan
Undefeated teams either rise to the occasion or falter in the playoffs.
The Talofofo Rangers stepped up big time Tuesday night, crushing the Chalan Pago Amigos 12-2 in the semifinals of the Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League at the Leo Palace Baseball Stadium.
The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. The Rangers finished the season 12-0 while the Amigos were in fifth place at 5-6.
Sixteen-year-old Robbie Rabago went the short distance after a rough start and the Rangers offense was lighting up the Mannengon night with big hit after big hit.
“I had a lot of butterflies,” the young Talofofo starter said. “Once I got the butterflies out and I got into my rhythm, it felt good. The Amigos are a tough team…they made me nervous.”

Rangers catcher Terrence Pablo was instrumental in calling the game for young Robbie Rabago. (photo by Asha Robles)
So nervous Rabago hit Amigos leadoff hitter Aleton Mesgon and walked Alan Quintanilla to get into a quick hole. Chalan Pago would take an early 1-0 lead when Zach Quintanilla later drove in Mesgon with a deep sacrifice fly to left.
Rabago managed to get out trailing only 1-0. He would give up only two hits the next three innings.
Meanwhile, his teammates made quick work off Chalan Pago starter Paul Campos.
“The whole team was very supportive,” Rabago added. “Every time I came into the dugout, I hear ‘good job, good job.’”
Clean-up hitter Conan Dela Cruz did the most damage early on as he ripped a two-run single to center in the first inning and came back in the second inning for another two-run drive, a bases loaded double to left-center field to make the score 7-1. This was after Terrence Pablo sliced a two-run single to the gap. That was it for Campos for the night as he was replaced by Florencio Binuya.
Trailing 10-1 in the top of the fifth, the Amigos gave it one more shot.
Chalan Pago was able to get to Rabago a bit as Alan Quintanilla drove in a run with a deep double to the wallk in left-center. A couple of batters later and two on, the stage was set for the dangerous Ray Quintanilla. Rabago got the Amigos #4 hitter to pop up the opposite way to shallow left. That’s where shortstop Andrew Taijeron made the defensive play of the game with a full-out sprint to the open gap to snag the fly and kill the threat.

Talofofo’s Shaun Santos gets some help up from Chalan Pago first baseman Brian Quintanilla after a collision at first base. (photo by Asha Robles)
“Gotta get it,” Taijeron said about the play. “It’s the playoffs.”
Taijeron wasn’t done. After that great defensive play, he produced a RBI triple in the bottom half that drove in twin brother Angelo.
Pablo ended the night with a RBI single on the very next at-bat that drove in Andrew Taijeron that sealed the deal and sends the Rangers to next week’s best-of-three championship series.
Talofofo new awaits the winner of Saturday night’s other semifinal game between the Yona Redhawks (2) and Barrigada Crusaders (3).
Game 1 of the championship series is slated for next Tuesday at Leo Palace.
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs