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By Robert Balajadia
The FD Friars hit a scoring funk in the 4th quarter that allowed the ND Royals to get back into the game, but execution by the Friars down the stretch allowed them to pull away from the Royals and their roaring crowd, 67-53 at the ND gym in IIAAG boys basketball Tuesday night action.
Tristan Jose led the Friars balanced scoring attack with 15 points, including a big bucket at the two-minute mark to squash a 7-2 run by the Royals to stretch the lead back up to double digits 57-47.
“We weren’t able to move the ball, but once we started getting more comfortable, like how we played in the 1st quarter, we were doing okay. We just need to realize that when we work as a team then we can accomplish things,” said Jose on the cold 4th quarter start.
The Royals got a big scoring output from Hance Barcinas’ game high 22 points, but the Royals slow offensive start and double-digit halftime lead proved too much to overcome.
Barcinas hit a three-pointer from the corner midway through the 4th quarter to get within 51-42, the first time the Royals got the lead back to single digits since midway through the 1st quarter.
“The Royals have heart and they don’t quit, I like that in a team. I have a lot of respect for them ever since they beat us last year, but every team is strong and this season is up in the air so we always have to play our game and not worry about the score,” said Jose on the fighting Royals.
Following Jose’s bucket, the Friars forced the Royals into two straight turnovers that eventually led to an acrobatic finish from Friars Jason Santos to ignite a quarter closing 7-3 run to lock in the win for FD.
The Friars deploy a heavy rotation just about every night, due to having a talented roster, and the Tuesday showdown against ND was no different. With all the shifting head coach Eddie Pelkey does, Jose has found a solid way to lead the team in scoring just about every contest.

Royals Nate Sablan is met in the air by Friars Tristan Jose’s shot contest. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)
“[Pelkey] relies on me to be a leader, but not only in scoring, I have to also be a leader on defense. I’m just here to play my game and if he calls me to score then I’ll do it,” said Jose.
FD first captured the double-digit lead in the 1st quarter after forward Geno Aquino converted an and-one play to go up 15-4. The Friars extended their lead 33-18 by half-time and held on to the lead throughout the 3rd quarter, entering the final period 49-35.
Next up for the Friars (3-1) are the unbeaten GW Geckos (3-0) Friday evening at the Gecko’s home. FD and GW never met in the GSPN preseason basketball tournament, which the Geckos ended up winning over the Okkodo Bulldogs, who knocked out the Friars in the semifinals.
ND (0-3) will travel to up north to face the Tiyan Titans (0-2) Friday evening.
Other Scores
St. Paul 62, Okkodo 56
JFK 82, Harvest 52
GW 98, Guam High 86
Sanchez 54, St. John’s 44
PHOTO GALLERY:

Friars RJ Rokop knocks down a wide-open three pointer in the first half of action. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

FD Friars Jeff Ochavilo tries to beat the buzzer in the first quarter. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

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TIYAN DROPS SET FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS

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BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Volleyball
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Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.