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By Jay Leon Guerrero
The Academy Cougars held off a tough Guam High Panthers squad to remain undefeated (4-0) in the Gadao Division in the IIAAG Girls Basketball league Tuesday night. The Cougars marched up the Agana Heights hill and got the road win 37-28.
The battle was the first of many featuring the leagues premier centers who are both underclassmen. Academy’s freshman sensation Mia San Nicolas battled in the paint against her friend Britney Bailey, a sophomore, from Guam High.
Bailey played the entire game and posted a crazy stat line of 9 points, 27 rebounds and 7 blocks. San Nicolas played 25 minutes and had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 blocked shots and 2 steals. Both centers owned the paint in the defensive battle between the teams.
Kiersten Pangelinan led the Cougars with 19 points, making 3-of-5 shots from downtown. Pangelinan made the big plays when Academy coach Eddie Pelkey needed it the most.
Trailing early in the first quarter, Pangelinan scored five straight points to give the Cougars their first lead of the game. In the third quarter, Guam High’s Harmony Yatar hit a long jumper and Bailey scored on a put back to cut their deficit to eight points (19-11).
Pangelinan answered with a three-pointer and dished out an assist to set up San Nicolas for a wide open lay-in to push the lead back to double digits.
Guam High made a final push at a comeback in the final period trimming the lead to 30-22 after Alexia Brown and Dawn San Luis each hit short jumpers. But just as she did in the first half, Pangelinan nailed a clutch 3-pointer to end all hopes of a comeback.
“Britney is really intimidating, I’m happy my teammates pulled through tonight. When we have leads like that, we just cannot get nervous and learn to close out games,” said Pangelinan.
“We know each other and we are are friends,” said San Nicolas about guarding Bailey. “She is fast, moves her feet well and did a great job in rebounding tonight.”
San Nicolas was more efficient on offense making 6-10 field goals to go with 2 assists.

Wendy’s Players of the Game, Mia San Nicolas (left) and Kiersten Pangelinan (right) of the Academy Cougars. (photo by Daniel Paran)
“I enjoy playing with and against Mia because she really makes me work harder,” said Bailey. The Panthers fall to 1-4 for the season but are looking to improve as the season goes into the second half. “Our basketball team, like every other sport team, can always improve with better communication. We need to practice our plays and get better at defense,” said Bailey.
Yatar had the game’s only double-double contributing 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers.
Kali set to return
The Cougars were able to win early in the season without All-Island point guard and Guam National team player Kali Benavente who is still recovering from an injury. She is scheduled to be out a few more days before working her way back into the offense.
“This is actually a good thing playing some games without Kali because we are learning not to depend on her all the time. It’s giving us more confidence; when she returns everyone will know their true potential. We will still be much appreciative of her when she returns, but the team know they play well,” said Pangelinan.
In the junior varsity game, the Cougars (3-1) easily defeated the Panthers 52-6. Mika Dela Cruz and Therese Fegurgur each scored 11 points for the Cougars, Saphira Abramson scored 4 points for the Panthers.
STANDINGS
Taga Division
Okkodo 2-0
St. Paul 2-0
Tiyan 1-2
JFK 1-1
Sanchez 0-3
Gadao Division
ND 4-0
Academy 4-0
Southern 1-2
GW 1-2
Guam High 1-4
Harvest 0-3
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GPS Sports Calendar
July 2022
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for July
2nd
YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
RIZIN 36: Kyle Aguon/Miyuu Yamamoto
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament
Events for July
3rd
YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament
Events for July
4th
47th Spirit of ’76 Run 6.7-Miler
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament
Events for July
5th
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament
UOG 3×3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
7th
Events for July
10th
Guam National Triathlon Championship
APL WOMEN’S FASTPITCH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
10th
Events for July
11th
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
Events for July
19th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
- 31
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- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6

Basketball
’05 SHOCKS ’06 AS FD TOURNEY ROLLS ALONG

Basketball
8-TIME FD CHAMPS TAKEN DOWN

Basketball
8-TIME FD CHAMPS TAKEN DOWN

Basketball
FD ALMUNI HOOPS TOURNEY IN FULL SWING

Basketball
’05 SHOCKS ’06 AS FD TOURNEY ROLLS ALONG
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Arren Yatar
UOG Tritons Pitcher Arren Yatar shares some of his fun facts and tells us about his favorite YouTube channel!
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Arren Yatar
UOG Tritons Pitcher Arren Yatar shares some of his fun facts and tells us about his favorite YouTube channel!
COMING SOON …
- Spirit of ’76 Run
- National Triathlon Championships
- GML Makeup Games
- FD Alumni Basketball Tournament (ongoing)