
Mike Pangelinan is a load to deal with on the football field as a fullback with the Hal’s Angels. He’s taken that brute strength and has added to it to the Guam National Paddling team heading to Papua New Guinea for the 2015 Pacific Games.
GSPN catches up with the ‘Mass Transit’ before the team departs for Port Moresby to ask him about the preparation of the paddling team and how it feels to be on the same National Team as his son Mike, Jr.
1) Explain to the average sports fan how much work goes in to paddling?
It’s like most other sports, you just have to have drive and dedication.
2) What’s the differences between paddling and football?
They both are team sports, but with football you can have a bad game and the others can contribute to the game individually to help win. But as for paddling it takes all six on that boat to work and win, and only one to lose it all. So unity, trust and teamwork is key.
3) What are the similarities?
They both require many hours of practice, and strength, cardio, and timing.
4) How important is the lower part of the body in paddling?
t may not look like a paddler uses much of his lower muscle, but it holds a lot of importance because you use your legs to help drive off each stroke and increase power by locking yourself down in your seat.
5) Take us through a normal week of preparation?
Lots of water time, a mixture of 500m and 1500m sprints, not to forget our weekly distance runs ranging from 10 to 21.6 miles. We also included land drills for strength and conditioning (lots of running, and body weight movements).
6) What islands are our stiffest competition?
That’s an easy one. Tahiti is and has been the team to beat each Games. Tahiti is also one of the world’s best, if not the best, so just coming in close to them would be a great achievement. But we don’t just want to come close, we want to win, and we can because nothing is impossible and with my whole team this year we can take a dream and turn it into reality if we work hard together. But we respect all the islands competing as well, because in the paddling world like in football “on any given night, or any given day, the ball can bounce any way”.
7) Realistically, what are our chances of medaling?
I believe anything is possible. Most of these teams competing do this for a living and are highly funded and trained. We here on Guam do this because we love our culture, sport and island. So yah, I think we can sneak into this and medal with this core of paddlers on the National Team this year
8) How awesome is it to be playing the same sports as your son?
It’s so surreal, never really had this planned out, but I love the fact that I can play football, or paddle along side with my son both locally and as National athletes. Not to mention training together doing crossfit at Crossfit Latte Stone.
9) Who’s the funniest member of our paddling team and why?
I have to say me, because I’m just naturally a prankster, doing many impressions and jokes just because I like making people laugh and smile.
10) Other than you, who has the best physique on the team?
I’ll have to say… Meeeeeh, Naaaah not even!! Hahahaa. But really I’d say Mr. Rich Valentine does. I don’t know really. Have you seen our entire squad? Both our men’s and women’s! Plus, I haven’t really looked at the men’s crew like that. Hahahaa! But this whole crew both men’s and women’s.
Men’s National Team
Carl Aguon
Jonathan Buasuwan
Bonn Delos Trinos
Brandon Hernandez (captain)
Ian Iriarte
Eric Mendiola
Thomas Mendiola
Adam Palomo
Johnny Palomo
Mike Pangelinan
Mike Pangelinan, Jr.
Aurthor Taimanglo
Richard Valentine III
Women’s National Team
Analisa Almazon
Kamaka Alston
Maribeth Benavente
Rosemarie Camacho (captain)
Christian Anne Palomo
Liana Delos Trinos
Francine Galao
Elizabeth Lubuag
Odessa Martinez
Beatrice Mata
Nicole Murphy
Patrina Perez
Thelma Soriano
COACHES: David Palomo and Joshua Duenas


GPS Sports Calendar
May 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for May
2nd
GIRLS HS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
HS BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for May
3rd
H.S. PADDLING CHAMPIONSHIP
HIGH SCHOOL POWERLIFTING SHOWDOWN
H.S. TRACK & FIELD
Events for May
3rd
Events for May
5th
GIRLS HS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
HS BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for May
9th
GIRLS HS FOOTBALL LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
HS BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for May
10th
Events for May
13th
Events for May
14th
Events for May
17th
GIRLS HS FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS
H.S. TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
Events for May
17th
Events for May
18th
Events for May
20th
Events for May
21st
Events for May
22nd
Events for May
23rd
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
Events for May
24th
Events for May
25th
Events for May
26th
Events for May
27th
Events for May
28th
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7

Volleyball
BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIS LOCKED IN FOR TUESDAY

Volleyball
ND’S GUMATAOTAO EARNS VOLLEYBALL MVP

Volleyball
AU MANA CAPTURES 3RD TRITON VBALL TITLE

Volleyball
BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF PICTURE CLEARED

Volleyball
FRIARS GET BY ISLANDERS AS PLAYOFFS NEAR

Volleyball
ND’S GUMATAOTAO EARNS VOLLEYBALL MVP

Volleyball
AU MANA CAPTURES 3RD TRITON VBALL TITLE
COMING SOON …
Interscholastic Playoffs