
By Patrick Lujan
Three of Guam’s off spring continue to make our island proud as Kai McDermott , Robert Artero Maley and Laralei Gandaoli captured gold medals stateside in the IBJJF 2015 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitus Championships Sunday in Long Beach, California – the biggest kids BJJ tournament in the world.
McDermott, a four-time youth world champion, pulled off two arm bars to capture gold in the PeeWee 3 medium heavy grey belt division.

A Family Affair: Parents Justin and Tricia McDermott with baby sister Kali support Kai’s jiu-jitsu ventures. (courtesy photo)
It is the second straight year McDermott has won the Pan Am Championships. He just turned nine-years-old on Feb. 6th.
“Thank you to all my teammates and coaches at Conde Koma BJJ, all my family and friends on Guam for always supporting me… Also to my sponsor Shoyoroll for my sick gear,” said the young McDermott. “Guam is always on my heart when I compete.”
Maley also won both matches to take top honors in the Junior 3 Grey Heavy division. He trains at Gracie Barra San Clemente under Professor Felipe Guedes from São Paulo, Brazil.
“Train insane or remain the same,” said Maley, who hard trained for nearly a year specifically for this competition.
After the competition, Maley had a chance to hang out with some of the Guam Purebred competitors.
Purebred’s Gandaoli was all over her first-round opponent 30-0. That’s right, 30-0! And that was against the East Coast Pan Am champion. She won 6-2 in the finals. It must run in the blood – older sister Jayronne is also a jiu-jitsu world champion. The youngster actually went up a weight bracket and an age group for this competition.

Gold medalist Laralei Gandaoli took out her first opponent 30-0 on her way to the championship. (courtesy photo)
Purebred Jiu-Jitsu head coach Stephen Roberto headed a team that finished with five medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze.
YELLOW / Junior 1 / Female / Medium Heavy Laralei Gandaoli gold
YELLOW / Junior 3 / Male / Rooster Ely Pocaigue II bronze
ORANGE / Junior 3 / Female / Medium Heavy Francesca Jolie Ada Lizama silver
ORANGE/GREEN / Teen 2 / Male / Middle Dawson Arceo silver
ORANGE/GREEN / Teen 3 / Male / Rooster Javon-John Sablan Borja bronze


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs