GUAM TEAMS APPROACHING MEDAL ROUNDS

By Robert Balajadia

POHNPEI – After sweeping the diamond on Thursday Guam had a tough day losing in both men’s and women’s softball, the tennis team locks up all the medals, and both the women’s basketball and volleyball team end the day with big wins.

Medal Count 5 Days In

Pohnpei 93 (31 gold)

Marshall Islands 83 (33 gold)

Palau 75 (26 gold)

Guam 59 (33 gold)

Guam Women’s Basketball Rollover RMI

The RMI team got all the “ooh’s” and “aah’s” from the crowd but Guam’s best female ballers handle their toughest opponent of the tournament so far beating RMI by a large margin 77-45.

RMI’s Jessica Olson did her best to carry the team scoring a team high 18 points, but Guam’s Destiny Castro poured in 19 points playing sparring minutes due to a small injury she suffered in the second half.

Guam had an early scare with starting point guard Jocelyn Pardilla going down in the first four minutes of action after getting hit from behind from RMI’s Grace Ratidara on a steal attempt. Pardilla was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the court, but returned later in the second half after taping up her ankle up.

Guam’s Jocelyn Pardilla took an early spill but returned to action after taping up her ankle. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Castro had 10 of the teams 24 first quarter points matching RMI’s total at 10 points.

Olson only scored two points in the first quarter but she ignited the team and crowd scoring seven straight points midway through the second quarter with cutting a once 33-13 lead from Guam to 33-20 forcing head coach Eddie Pelkey to call a timeout.

Guam then closed the quarter on their own 7-0 run to go back up 40-20 eventually getting out to a 47-26 at halftime with Kali Benavente and Alina Bonto hitting shots from behind the arc. Benavente and Bonto both finished with 13 points.

Everyone got into the action again with the whole team scoring points.

Leading 54-36 after the 3rd quarter Guam went for 23 points in the 4th quarter to close out the game.

Guahan Soldier player of the game Destiny Castro.

Guam Locks Up Tennis Medals

It’s unfortunate that there are only three medals to be given out since all of Guam’s tennis players will be facing off for the tennis medals as each member cleaned their divisions.

Saturday’s gold medal matches will look like this:

Singles – Final Four

(GU) Brian Tuncap Jr. vs. (GU) Anthony John

(GU) Charles Oliver vs. (GU) Joshua Cepeda

(GU) Camdyn Nadler vs. (GU) Katrina Lai

Doubles

(GU) Joshua Cepeda & Charles Oliver vs. (GU) Anthony John & Brian Tuncap Jr.

(GU) Charlayne Espinosa & Katrina Lai vs. (GU) Nadine Del Carmen & Camdyn Nadler

Either way you slice it, Guam is bringing home gold in tennis!

Guam Tennis player Anthony John

Guam Tennis player Joshua Cepeda

Guam Tennis player Camdyn Nadler

Guam Tennis player Nadine Del Carmen

RMI Drops Guam In Women’s Softball

The unbeaten streak came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon as the women’s team ran into a well-prepared RMI squad beating Guam 11-1 while scoring five runs in the first inning eventually ending the game via mercy ruling.

This was the fourth loss from a Guam team with men’s softball losing earlier in the day to Pohnpei.

Women’s Volleyball Picking Up Steam

Teams continue to fall to the men’s and women’s volleyball team as the girls have clearly moved past their loss to Yap after dropping Nauru in three straight sets. The girls haven’t been pushed outside of three sets since going five straight sets in their first two games against Palau and Yap.

Saturday Events

Guam’s paddlers came in Friday evening and are set to roll out Saturday at 7 am.

Guam’s table tennis team also came in and they are going to serve off at 9 am.

After a two day rest, Guam’s men’s basketball team is moving into the medal rounds facing Chuuk and former Guam basketball and volleyball star Maks Kepwe at 2 pm.

Guam baseball will face off against CNMI for the second time for a spot in the gold medal game. The loser will have to play for Bronze Monday morning at 9 am with the winner moving into the gold medal match at 1 pm the same day.

Guam’s tennis players will face each other for gold, silver, and bronze.