
By Robert Balajadia
The highly anticipated GSPN Pre-Season Boys Basketball Tournament officially tipped off Thursday evening with an opening ceremony to introduce all 11 participating teams.
Local singer Jack Larimer led the National Anthem followed by the Guam Hymn, Leo Payumo introduced the youth to the Mt. Rushmore of Guam Basketball, and legendary coach Felipe Candaso did the honorary tipoff to get the games underway.
JFK 58, Sanchez 37
The Islanders proved early in the game why they are one of the season’s most dangerous teams after quickly jumping out to a 21-9 lead against the Sharks.
Sanchez made it a closer contest in the second half, but All-Island 1st Team returnee Billy Belger proved to be too much to handle by making clutch buckets to put the Sharks away.
Belger had a game-high 19 points and helped the Islanders bounce back from a poor 3rd quarter where they allowed Sanchez back in the game. Sharks John Buan scored a team-high 13 points, majority of which coming in the second half where the Sharks outscored the Islanders 13-9 in the 3rd quarter to pull within 39-28.
Belger broke a four-minute scoring drought with a bucket midway through the final quarter to go up 41-28. He then made a heads-up play on defense by intercepting a pass after the inbound, where he then stepped into a three-pointer off the steal to extend the lead 44-28, putting the game out of reach.
Ricky Pak added eight points for JFK in the win as the Islanders jump out to an early 1-0 in the tournament.
St. Paul 75, Guam High 64 OT
In a thrilling overtime battle, the St. Paul Warriors used an 11-0 run in overtime to defeat the Guam High Panthers, led by John San Andres 28-point outing. San Andres had missed a game-winning tip in regulation which sent the game into overtime when the Warriors took over.
The largest lead by any team was held by the Guam High Panthers, which was six points. It was a gritty back-and-forth battle by both teams from start to finish.
Kurt Edusada and Rodney Taitague each had 19 points for the Panthers in the loss. Point guard Arther Rhodes added 14 for the Warriors.
Day 1 Pool Standings
Pool A: The North Waters
JFK 1-0
GW 0-0
Sanchez 0-1
Pool B: The Coast-To-Coast Sun
FD 0-0
Okkodo 0-0
ND 0-0
Pool C: The Central Breeze
St. Paul 1-0
Harvest 0-0
Tiyan 0-0
St. John’s 0-0
Guam High 0-1
PHOTO GALLERY:

Group photo before kicking off the preseason High School Boys Basketball Tournament . (photo by Joey Blas)

Legendary coach Felipe Candaso initiated the Honorable Tip off to start the games. (photo by Joey Blas)

Sharks Cris Yerten dribbles past two defenders and was able to find an opening to make the basket. (photo by Joey Blas)

JFK Jaron Weilbacher drives the ball to the hoop and banks it in and draws the foul. (photo by Joey Blas)


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
28th
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF BUSY 4TH QUARTER SPORTS

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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.
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Kobe Miyashita, with St. John’s coach Arvin Flores, was named the 2023 IIAAG Middle School Boys Volleyball MVP!