GECKOS REPEAT AS PRE-SEASON CHAMPS

(Catch the live audio broadcast with Robert Balajadia HERE)

By Jay Leon Guerrero

For the second straight year the GW Geckos defeated the Okkodo Bulldogs in the pre-season basketball championship game. The Geckos went on scoring spurts in the second and fourth quarters to win the Buddy’s Home Furnishing boys preseason basketball tournament 66-51 over the Bulldogs.

After losing their opening game to a buzzer beater against the St. Paul Warriors, the Geckos won five straight games en route to the championship. The Geckos are now instant contenders going into the high school regular season which starts next week.

GW started the contest with a 10-2 lead sparked by the play of GSPN all-tournament team member Nathaniel Kyle Gaitan. The Gecko sophomore sensation ignited the offense making 3-of-5 field goals which included a 3-pointer to take the early lead.

The Bulldogs bounced back to tie the game at 13-13 by the end of the period with Vern Gustilo hitting a deep 3-pointer and Aiden Ferrera converting a lay-in just before the first quarter buzzer sounded.

The Geckos exploded in the second quarter with 21 points with their hot shooting from behind the arc. Devin San Agustin and Jacob Frias each made two 3-pointers in the quarter to go into the locker room with a commanding 34-21 lead.

In Okkodo’s previous game against the Pool B top seed JFK Islanders, the Bulldogs trailed by double digits at halftime and rallied back for the win. Just as they did in their previous game, the Bulldogs slowly chipped away at their deficit after halftime.

Austin Blaz and Nate Lorenzo hit shots in the third quarter to slowly chip away at the Gecko lead. Ferrera also scored in the quarter to cut the lead to 7 points before picking up his fourth foul which forced him to the bench.

The Gecko players were in the stands watching when Okkodo got hot against the Islanders and did not allow them to make any comeback in the final period of regulation. GW’s Noah Blas scored on fast breaks, Gaitan made acrobatic shots in the paint and Frias hit another three-pointer with four minutes left to push the lead to 15 points.

Karlo De Leon makes use of his footwork to rush past the Bulldogs. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Gustilo hit a pair of three-pointers in the final period but San Agustin answered with a three-pointer of his own to secure the win. San Agustin led the Geckos with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Frias scored 14 points and dished out 4 assists, Blas had 9 points and 4 rebounds.

“We knew they were a very strong second half team based in what they showed against JFK. The game plan was to stay composed and keep playing good defense,” said San Agustin.

“Last year we started strong to begin the season and then started to slow down as the season ended. This season, we are going to try and push all the way to the end by playing tough defense,” said Gaitan.

Gustilo led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 4 dimes. Ferrera had limited playing time but managed 10 points and 9 rebounds. Blaz 10 points and 4 assists, Lorenzo had 6 points and 9 rebounds.

Gaitan flirted with a triple-double recording 16 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. The sophomore sensation said his team is happy with the pre-season championship but the ultimate goal is to help GW win a high school championship.

“We still have areas we need to improve and defense is definitely something we need to work on,” said Gaitan.

“We learned much from this pre-season tournament. Every school has a strong team, the competition is heavy here,” said San Agustin.

Wendy’s Players of the Game Devin San Agustin and Kyle Gaitan.

Team Kali vs Team Destiny

A pair of decorated female basketball stars will graduate high school this year and GSPN decided to have them play one more game under the spotlight.

Academy’s Kali Benavente and ND’s Destiny Castro played one last game to end a chapter in their successful high school careers. The Guam National Team members and good friends took the court for a first ever high school stars exhibition game called Team Kali vs Team Destiny.

At the end of the game, Team Kali won 51-47. In this particular contest, winning or losing did not matter. Both teams shared high fives and jokes before, during and after the game. The fans were treated with some fancy dribbling and creative passes by both team captains as the crowd cheered for both sides.

Both girls were named team captains and had an opportunity to choose their respective team in a game to be played prior to the Buddy’s Home Furnishing pre-season boys championship game.

Team Kali:
Bila Aguon, G (GW)
Y’lisiah Jorda, G (Tiyan)
Chloe Miranda, G (St. Paul)
Nica Mojas, F (Okkodo)
Anita Onedera, G (JFK)
Kiersten Pangelinan, F (Academy)
Mia San Nicolas, C (Academy)
Marlisah Tenorio, PF (Southern)

Team Destiny:
Britney Bailey, C (Guam High)
Shania Bulala, G (Okkodo)
Meaghan Cruz, PF (Academy)
Jenna Han, G (St. John’s)
Kimberly Malalis, G (Southern)
Joy Pangilinan, G (St. Paul)
Cianna Reyes, G (JFK)

The exhibition game between Team Kali and Team Destiny gave the fans an entertaining show. (photo by Dan Paran)

Team Destiny led 24-15 at halftime using their size advantage to get second chance points. Castro played quarterback dishing out assists to Meaghan Cruz, Shania Bulala and Ciana Reyes to seize the early advantage. Britney Bailey also scored in the first half and helped inside with offensive rebounding before taking a seat on the bench due to foul trouble.

Benavente led the charge in the second half to help her squad back into the game. Marlisah Tenorio and Mia San Nicolas scored in the paint to help swing momentum in favor of Team Kali. St. Paul senior Joy Pangilinan scored a lay-in and hit a 3-pointer to put Team Destiny back up by seven points.

Underclassmen Y’lisiah Jorda and Chloe Miranda each hit 3-pointers for Team Kali to erase Pangilinan’s efforts as the game went down to the wire in the closing minutes.

Tenorio and Anita Onedera scored in the 90 seconds of regulation to put Team Kali up for good. Tenorio scored a game high 21 points to lead all scorers. Benavente scored 9 points and dished out 6 assists in the victory.

Castro scored 13 points and had 6 assists to lead her team. Pangilinan scored 12 points, Cruz scored 10 points for Team Destiny.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The All-Tournament team was awarded at halftime with the selectees being Ethan Alegre (St. Paul), Nate Lorenzo (Okkodo), Buddy’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Senne, Rodney Taitague (Guam High), Kyle Gaitan (GW), and Michael Min (St. John’s).

GSPN CEO Patrick Lujan, tourney winning coach Laurence Luces, and Buddy’s Home Furnishing Darrin Senne pose with the tourney trophy. (photo by Dan Paran.)

The championship match begins with the Bulldogs’ Isaac Snively wins the tipoff against Devin San Agustin. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Okkodo’s Austin ‘Mugsy’ Blaz pulls back for the fadeaway jumper. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Nate Lorenzo drives the lane with GW’s Devin San Agustin awaiting. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Aiden Ferrera forces a shot up in close range over the Geckos. (photo by Daniel Paran)

In a burst of speed, Bulldogs’ Vern Gustilo charges past Karlo De Leon. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Devin San Agustin throws a shot up from under the hoop. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Jacob Frias lands a three of his own to further the lead of the Geckos. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Nathaniel Gaitan hits a three from way outside of the Bulldogs’ reach. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Geckos’ Nathaniel Gaitan and Bulldogs’ Aiden Ferrera challenge for the rebound. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Team captain Kali Benavente puts up a short jumper for some easy points during the girls exhibition game. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Joy Pangelinan puts a shot up over Team Kali’s defense. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Shania Bulala keeps the ball safe as she plans her next move. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Southern’s Kim Malalis charges in the middle of the defense for a shot. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Britney Bailey from Guam High easily wins a rebound for Team Destiny. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Destiny Castro showing why she is her team’s captain as she hits a three from the corner. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Mia San Nicolas swats the ball away from Team Destiny’s Joy Pangilinan. (photo by Daniel Paran)

JFK’s Anita Onedera steals possession of the ball and drives it to the net for Team Kali. (photo by Daniel Paran)

GW freshman Bila Aguon leaves Destiny Castro behind as she makes her approach. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Tiyan’s Y’lisiah Jorda of Team Kali takes a shot from outside the arc. (photo by Daniel Paran)