
By John Baza
IIAAG boys volleyball action continued this Tuesday night at the JFK gym with the home team Islanders hosting the ND Royals. The Islanders were able to oust the Royals (25-14, 25-23) surviving a nail-biting attempt to comeback by the Royals in the second set.
With the game tied 22-all and the Royals looking force a third set, it was JFK’s Billy Belger who came up clutch as he recorded a kill and a key block to give his team the advantage (24-22).
“First set we were coasting so coach told us just to jump straight and it worked just like that”, replied Belger on delivering the game winning kill and block in the last few plays of the second set.
After an Islander error on the serve, the Royals had a chance once again but a missed hit on the final play proved costly and gave JFK the win for the night.
JFK’s duo of Belger and Wayne Jesus were on point throughout the contest, throwing down a barrage of kills that shook the gym and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
But the visiting team and their fans showed resilience, with spot on defense as they picked up spike attempts and got blocks when needed.
Action the first set started slow but picked up eventually as the Islanders’ Sakane delivered the first kill to put his team up 6-5, but the Royals’ Kyle Henricksen had an answer on the next play as he fired a kill right through JFK’s blockers to tie it up.
The game seemed to be one that was quite evenly matched as JFK’s attack was apparent throughout the night, but the Royals were prepared on defense, picking up hits and getting blocks courtesy of Henricksen, Jason Javelosa and Ethan Langas.
The JFK Islanders however proved too much for the Royals as Chris Conner, Sakane and Belger sent in a flurry of kills and blocks to cruise to a 25-14 win in the first set.
Second set action was a different story, as the Royals jumped to a 4-1 lead to set the pace.
The Islanders’ Jesus came out in full on attack mode, landing 3 kills in his first 3 hits to help his team regain the lead (5-4).
JFK would go on to steadily hold the lead while also getting 2 straight blocks courtesy of Chino Cruz (10-7).
But the Royals’ Langas and Henricksen got the visiting crowd going with an Impressive block to get their team within distance after a lengthy rally from both sides (10-8).
The remainder of the set saw plenty of see-saw action as both teams battled to seize control of the set. The Royals’ Roland Balajadia and Javelosa were able to pick up several hits from the Islanders heavy hitters, helping their team pick up momentum.
The Islanders would find themselves trailing 17-14 after solid hits from the Royals’ Hance Barcinas and Nathan Sablan in the set helped the visiting team jump to the lead.
But the home team picked up the slack coming out of the timeout as they clawed their way to tie up the contest 22-22, and eventually survive the set for their second victory this season.
“Right now they’re kind of a roller coaster, they have their ups and downs… but if they can stay focused and communicate more and put forth that effort I think we’ll be alright” replied JFK coach Alden Bautista on his team’s focus for the season.
With the win, the Islanders improve to (3-1).
Other Scores
Harvest def. Sanchez 25-16, 25-19
FD def. Tiyan 25-12, 25-21
Okkodo def. Southern 25-23, 25-21
GW def. St. John’s 25-11, 25-21
PHOTO GALLERY:


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

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs