U19 Oceania Basketball Championships in Fiji

DAY 3

Bishop Baumgartner 8th grade phenom Mia San Nicolas paved the way for Team Guam with 24 points and 17 rebounds as Guam improved to 3-0 in the women’s bracket by taking out American Samoa 81-34.

Destiny Castro played only 15+ minutes as Guam built a 30-4 lead after the first quarter, giving way to the entire roster to get playing time. Castro still finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Kali Benavente saw her first extensive game coming off an ankle injury, playing in 18+ minutes and finished with five points and four rebounds.

Guam went to the free throw line 52 times, converting 27.

We now take on the taller and favored Aussies on Thursday (11 am Chamorro Standard Time). Australia blew out American Samoa 113-8 in the opening day.

In the men’s game, the Australian U19 team – clear-cut tournament favorites – had the obvious height advantage over the smaller Guam as the Aussies cruised to a 103-40 victory. Harry Froling led Australia with 29 points with five other teammates reaching double digit points.

Guam fell early in the first quarter and never recovered, suffering their second straight loss of the tournament going 1-2 so far.