
By Jay Leon Guerrero
The Guam Elite Wendy’s/ Coldstone All-Island Boys Middle Basketball Tournament completed Day 2 on Sunday with six games at the Tamuning gym. Two public school rivals battled yesterday with the FBLG Hawks going against the Benavente Roadrunners. During their regular season, the two teams split wins but all the dust settled in the grudge match Sunday afternoon at Tamuning gym.
It was a seesaw battle early, but the Hawks interior defense and offense from forward Jeff Labanza and center Jesse Martin was enough to hold on for the 38-34 victory. There were three lead changes but the Hawks went on a run mid-way through the first half to take 23-12 advantage by halftime.
“Our coach told us to execute our press and the baskets will come,” said Martin. The Hawks showed the full court press to open the game which forced a pair of turnovers that turned into baskets as they went ahead 7-3. Jeremiah Camacho provided all the offense for the Roadrunners scoring their first seven points of the game to tie the contest 7-7.
The Hawks finished the half on a 16-5 run behind the defense provided by Lanbanza. Labanza recorded three big blocks to close out the first half to keep the Roadrunners at just five field goals made in the half. “We didn’t want them to score early, we wanted to pick up the pace. Coach wanted us to start off strong today,” said Lanbanza.
Roadrunner head coach Erwin Villa grilled his team at halftime and they responded, opening the second half on a 5-0 run. Camacho netted a three-pointer and Ian Asuncion made a transition bucket to open up the half for BMS.
The Hawks responded with Martin doing his Giannis Antetokounmpo impression of center on defense and point guard on offense, scoring and dishing out assists to push the lead back up to eight points. The Roadrunners made one final push at getting back into the game with Asuncion getting two steals on the press to cut the lead to five points with three minutes remaining.
The Roadrunners regrouped and continued with their press but guard Moises Manalo closed the game out with a fast break lay-in after breaking the press and converting two free throws to ice the game.
Camacho led the Roadrunners in scoring with 12 points, Asuncion had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Martin put up Antetokounmpo-like numbers with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks for the Hawks who remain undefeated in pool play at 3-0 after getting another win later in the day. The Roadrunners are now 2-1 defeating Agueda.
Labanza had a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Labanza was thankful to the Elite Basketball group for organizing the tournament.
“This tournament is good for our age level; we all will improve and learn more about the game,” said Labanza.
Action continues all week with the playoffs scheduled for the weekend.
Here are other results from Sundays games:
Harvest 33, St Johns 30
Jose Rios 49, Astumbo Middle School 35
Benavente Middle 47, Agueda 13
FBLG 53, Saint Anthony 23
Untalan 31, St Johns 15
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GPS Sports Calendar
October 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for September
30th
Events for October
2nd
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
Events for October
5th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
6th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
Events for October
9th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA M.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for October
12th
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for October
13th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
BRAWL 3
Events for October
14th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
14th
Events for October
15th
Events for October
17th
MEN’S SOCCER: GUAM V SINGAPORE
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
17th
Events for October
20th
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
Events for October
22nd
Events for October
24th
Events for October
28th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
29th
I MAS METGOT COMPETITION (GUAM’S STRONGEST MAN & WOMAN)
Events for October
29th

Weightlifting
POWERLIFTERS REPRESENT WELL IN TEXAS MEET
COMING SOON …
- Brawl 3: Oct 13
- Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29