
By Mike Nauta Jr.
Just when volleyball action around the island looked to have simmered down, five teams participating in the 2014 Youth Games got things going Thursday night at the George Washington gymnasium. With three games scheduled, teams from the Philippines and Guam gave their respective supporters and fans in attendance lots to cheer about. In the last game of the evening, the SFS Crusaders went to battle against Team Manhoben. At the sound of the final whistle, it was Manhoben who earned a straight-set (25-12, 25-17) win in the battle of Guam teams.
“This was a great game played by both teams,” said SFS Crusaders coach John Afaisen. “Our girls played well and gained good experience against a very good and disciplined Manhoben team.”
In the early part of the game, both teams looked to find rhythm and their comfort zone. An early trading of point kept things within striking distance. With the score knotted at 5-5, Manhoben’s Dariana “Atulai” Lujan found an opening in the Crusaders defense to give her team the lead. Moments later, ShaiAnn Trinidad took control from the service line and eventually gave Manhoben an 11-5 lead after racking about five aces.

SFS Crusaders’ Cedera Aguilar is airborne as she attempts a hit against the Manhoben Jr.’s in last night’s 2014 Youth Games Volleyball action. Manhoben went on to pick-up a straight set 25-12, 25-17 victory. (Photo by: Joey Blas)
The Crusaders refused to let down and continued to fight back with the hustle play of Kioko Afaisen, Cedera Aguilar, and Tatiana Afaisen. Despite the tough defense of Manhoben, the Crusaders managed to narrow the gap and pulled within two midway through making it a 13-11 game. However, the mini-rally proved to be a wake-up call for Manhoben as they turned up the heat on both offense and defense. The trio of Alexis “Hippie” Taisipic, Lujan, and Isanna “Mary” Taijeron led Manhoben on a 12-1 surge to close out the set.
“We know what our team is capable of doing, but our mistakes is what we have to limit in order for us to finish off sets,” said Manhoben’s Taisipic. “When we play teams like the Crusaders, we can’t take things lightly. It’s always play until the last point.”
Second set action began much like the first. However, it was experience that proved to be the difference between the two teams. Despite trailing early, Manhoben remained poised and eventually found momentum led by the serving and hitting of Lujan and Camarin Breton respectively that led taking a 13-9 lead halfway through the set. SFS managed to close the margin of deficit and made it 20-17 late in the game. However, that would be as close as they got as Jacqueline Toves, Trinidad, and Lujan sealed the victory with three aces and two kills combined.

An SPS Warrior is alert and ready while returning the ball back to the other side of the net against Team PYC of the Philippines last night at the GW Gym. The two teams battled one another in the 2014 Youth Games Volleyball. (Photo by: Joey Blas)
“Tonight is over and done with, all teams did well today,” said Afaisen. “Tomorrow it’s back to work for everyone and we look forward to another exciting time with all the teams.”
2014 Youth Games action continues Friday night with three games to be played at the Saint Anthony Gymnasium. At 5pm, Team Pampanga will go to battle against Manhoben. The 6pm game will feature another battle between Guam teams as the Crusaders take on the SPS Warriors. In the nightcap, Manhoben returns to the floor at 7pm to take on DLS Canlubang.
Other Results:
The SFS Crusader kicked things off going up against DLS Canlubang in a match that was close from beginning to end. However, when all was said and done, it was the visiting team from the Philippines who walked away with a 25-18, 25-16 victory.
The second match pitted the SPS Warriors taking on Team Pampanga. While the match could’ve gone either way, it was the Warriors who stole a 25-23, 26-24 victory.
PHOTO GALLERY:

Manhoben Jr.’s ShaiAnn “Princess” Trinidad serves up one of her seven aces in last night’s 2014 Youth Games Volleyball match against the SFS Crusaders. Trinidad and the rest of her team cruised to a two-set victory. (Photo by: Joey Blas)


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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