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By Robert Balajadia
The JFK Islanders ended the unbeaten streak of the Guam High Panthers Friday night in thrilling fashion by beating them 49-45 at the Panther home court in Agana Heights. The Panthers drop to (5-1) while the Islanders improve to (6-1)
Islanders’ Kurtis Silva had a team high 22 points, including clutch buckets down the stretch to snap the Panther streak. However, heading into the game, Silva was not focused on giving the Panthers their first loss but instead just picking up another win.
“We were just preparing for this like it was any other game. The records didn’t matter, we were just trying to get another win. It was good, none-the-less, but there was no pressure. We just wanted the W,” said Silva.
Panthers Austy Hines had a game high 23 points in the loss.
The Islanders were trailing 39-36 in the fourth quarter before going on a 9-0 run led by Ricky Pak and Silva to extend the Islander lead 45-39 with less than a minute left to play. Hines continued to work his way into the post to end the drought, but a layup by Silva through a Panther double-team down the other end quickly put the Islanders up 47-41 with 30 seconds left to play.
Hines quickly hit back-to-back buckets to trim the six-point Islander lead to just two points, 47-45 with five seconds left to play late in the fourth quarter.

JFK’s Kurtis Silva goes up and tries to make a difficult shot but was fouled in the attempt. (photo by Joey Blas)
The Islanders inbounded the ball to young swingman Billy Belger, who was instantly fouled and stepped up to the free throw line to sink both free throws with the Panther crowd screaming for a miss.
“I wasn’t nervous at all. I was calm and relaxed,” said Belger on the final free throws.
Both shots hit nothing but the bottom of the net.
Guam High got off to a blazing start and built a double digit lead, 13-2, in the first quarter. Islanders guard Aljurrell Grape came off the bench and provided a spark along with Silva, who knocked in back-to-back three pointers to give the Islanders a short run late in the quarter to cut the lead 17-11.
The Islanders regrouped on defense and held the Panthers scoreless in the first seven minutes of the second quarter. The Islanders managed to grab their first lead of the game off a layup from Geno Perez, 18-17.
“[Guam High] got off to a good start. As far as our offense was concerned, we seemed to be forcing the issue. I told my boys to settle down and our defense picked up in the second quarter. Things then started to settle down and we began taking good shots,” said coach Serafico on getting his guys to play strong after the slow start.
Hines got the Panthers out of their cold spell with an and-one play and helped the Panthers regain the lead going into halftime 21-18.
The third quarter presented a faster pace from both teams with Silva and Belger providing a big lift to give the Islanders their largest lead of the game at six, 32-26. The Panthers roared back off a bucket from Hines and three-pointer from L.J. Aguon to close out the quarter on a 7-2 run to pull within one, 34-33.
The Panthers recaptured the lead early in the fourth off a fast break layup from Eddie Garza. Hines would work his way to the bucket on the following possession to extend the game 39-36 with the Guam High crowd erupting.
The Islanders closed out the game on the impressive run and Belger’s free throws snapped the bottom of the net along with the Panthers five-game undefeated streak.
The Islanders only loss was by two points agains the Okkodo Bulldogs earlier in the season. Coach Serafico has the boys clicking and chemistry appears to be their key component.
“We play with good chemistry all the time. We pause a little when things aren’t going our way, but for the most part our chemistry brings out the best in us,” said Silva.
Other Scores
FD 49, Harvest 47 – The winless Harvest Eagles nearly defeated the FD Friars with just four players on the court. The Eagles were trailing 46-36 with four minutes left in the game before one of their players fell to a cramp. With their other players being fouled out, the Eagles were forced to play with a four-man roster which tied the game at 47 with 30 seconds left to play. Friars Nic Aglubat sank the game winner as time expired to survive the big upset. Aglubat led the Friars with eight points while Eagles’ Jordan Javellana finished with 13 points.
St. Paul 58, Southern 53 – (SPC) Jason Aquino 26 pts. (SHS) Chaz Nanguata 14 pts.
ND 51, St. John’s 47
Okkodo 65, GW 56


Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
27th
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Baseball
DODGERS HAND TRITONS FIRST LOSS

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- Todd Gurley Football Camp on Andersen
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan