
By Jay Leon Guerrero
It’s mid-season for the Golden Hoops Classic Co-Ed basketball league and teams are battling for good playoff seeding heading into their double elimination playoff brackets scheduled for next month.
After dropping their first game to the top-seeded team Ambros, the Thunder bounced back and defeated JMI Edison I in their second game 51-38 to remain in 3rd place out of 12 teams in the league.
Joshua McCarrel earned the Wendy’s Player of the Game honors scoring 19 points, most of which were in the paint, to hold off the smaller JMI Edison I squad. Joshua’s brother, Jeremy McCarrel, also contributed in the second half; grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring in the paint to help the Thunder pull away with 4 minutes left in regulation.
JMI Edison had no answer inside, but guards (and cousins) George Ilao and Alschae Grape did most of their scoring. The cousins scored 32 of JMI’s 38 points in the contest.
Grape, a sophomore sensation from JFK high school, cut the Thunder lead to a bucket after he hit a short jumper to trail 18-16 with 7 minutes left in the first half. The Thunder closed out the half with a huge run, out scoring JMI 14-2 to close out the half leading 32-18 by the break.
Tanya Flores from the Thunder was instrumental during the run, hitting a pair of three-pointers. Flores found herself wide open after the JMI Edison defenders were focused on protecting the paint.
The Thunder maintained a double digit lead in the second half, using their size to score. Joshua and Jeremy took turns scoring to go up by as much as 15 points with 14 minutes left in regulation.
JMI’s Ian Inocencio and Grape sparked a comeback, utilizing their speed to go on a 4-0 run to trim the lead to 40-29. But size mattered in this particular game with the Thunder getting second and occasional third chance opportunities to score off the offensive rebounds to hold on for the win.
Grape led all scorers with 25 points, Ilao chipped in 7 points for the winless JMI Edison I team. Joshua McCarrell had 19 points, Skyler Benavente scored 8 points for the Thunder.
Elegant Reflections splits games against Bank of Guam teams
The Elegant Reflections Sticky Bandits also played a double header, defeating the Bank of Guam Ifit team 75-34. Brianna Benito from Elegant Reflections led all scorers with 18 points.
Ricky Hernandez scored 16, brother-sister duo Dustin and Derin Santos each scored 12 points for Elegant. Joseph Gumataotao scored 14 points to lead BOG Ifit, Joanne Gogue scored 12, Nicolas Camacho scored 9 points.
In the second game, BOG Express avenged the loss handed to BOG Ifit, defeating Elegant Reflections 59-53. BOG Express held a double digit lead in the second half and held off a late run by Elegant to improve to 5-1 for the season, and is currently in 2nd place.
The leagues leading scorer Symon Madrazo from BOG Express scored 23 points to lead all scorers. Sharp shooter Glen Gogue drained four 3-pointers for 12 points, Conrad Berg scored 11 points.
Elegant Reflections’ April ‘Speedy’ Talledo scored 11 points, Chris Ueki chipped in 9 points. Elegant left the Tamuning gym with a 2-3 record with 9 games remaining.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

George Ilao of JMI shoots from right under the basket as Skyler Benavente tries to stop him. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Jeremy McCarrel of Team Thunder snatches the ball away from George Ilao for the rebound. (photo by Daniel Paran)


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
15th
Events for May
17th
GIRLS HS FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS
H.S. TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
Events for May
17th
Events for May
18th
Events for May
20th
Events for May
21st
Events for May
22nd
- 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
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- 5
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Softball
CAMACHO SIGNS TO PLAY SOFTBALL IN NY

Running/Track
PANTHERS CONTINUE TRACK SUPREMACY

Running/Track
PANTHERS CONTINUE TRACK SUPREMACY

Softball
CAMACHO SIGNS TO PLAY SOFTBALL IN NY
COMING SOON …
Youth Football starts June 7-8
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS
Nino Untalan hit the game-winning 3-pointer with under 30 seconds left in the game.
It is the first championship for the Obispos in 13 years.