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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
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
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Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
24th
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for March
25th
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
28th
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF BUSY 4TH QUARTER SPORTS

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF BUSY 4TH QUARTER SPORTS
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.
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Kobe Miyashita, with St. John’s coach Arvin Flores, was named the 2023 IIAAG Middle School Boys Volleyball MVP!