PNG: MEN’S BASKETBALL TO PLAY FOR GOLD

Guam’s only loss in the 2015 Pacific Games was avenged Saturday afternoon as Guam trounced Tahiti 89-57 behind a huge third quarter from Joe Blas and a steady performance from Tai Wesley. The win punches Guam a ticket to the gold medal game against Fiji, which they beat in an overtime buzzer-beater Wednesday night.

Blas hit all of his three pointers in the 3rd quarter and capped off the afternoon with a 22-point performance as Wesley added another double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Guam played suffocating defense and held Tahiti to just 22 points in the first half while grabbing a 16-point lead (38-22).

Guam last won gold in 1979, ironically in Fiji. Since then, it’s been a string of silver medals.

Swimming Results

50m Freestyle Prelims (F) – Pilar Shimizu 7th (28.32), Mineri Kuritori 14th (30.21)

200m Backstroke Prelims (M) – Jagger Stephens 4th (2:19.45), Tanner Joel Poppe 13th (2:45.52)

Volleyball

Papua New Guinea def. Guam 25-14, 25-15, 25-15 (women)

PNG def. Guam in three sets (men)

Tennis

Men’s Singles

Reynald Taaroa def. Joshua Cepeda 6-1, 6-0 (1st round)

Andrew Chung def. Valinitine Fuji 6-4, 6-3 (1st round)

WilliamO’Connell def. Andrew Chung 6-1, 6-0 (2nd round)

Women’s Singles

Estell Tehau def. Charlayne Espinosa 6-0, 6-0 (1st round)

Sisillia Teu def. Camdyen Nadler 6-3, 6-0 (1sr round)

MEDAL COUNT

3 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze