Connect with us

Basketball

GUAM NATIONALS DOMINATE 3X3 CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the Olympics introducing 3-on-3 Basketball as a new medal sport, the Guam Basketball Federation held a huge event Saturday at the UOG Calvo Field House to help the local athletes prepare for a different style to the game of basketball.

By Jay Leon Guerrero

With the Olympics introducing 3-on-3 Basketball as a new medal sport, the Guam Basketball Federation held a huge event Saturday at the UOG Calvo Field House to help the local athletes prepare for a different style to the game of basketball.

The men and women competed on opposite sides of the court in the regular pool play which consisted of six teams to determine the champion. The top four men and women teams battled in a single elimination format. The entire national basketball team pool played in the event with the coaches picking the teams to make the event equal. Also joining the event were members of the GBA’s KFC Bombers and the UOG Tritons.

Both championship games were exciting with each team winning by one point.

Women’s Final

The team of Derin Santos, Lindsey Wilson, Kat Castro and Rosita Duenas won the women’s 3X3 team event with a hard fought 7-6 win over the team of Kali Benavente, Brianna Benito, Chloe Miranda and Alana Salas. With less than a minute remaining, Santos scored in the paint to go ahead 7-5.

Benavente scored with 20 seconds left to cut the lead to 7-6. Santos tried to score again but missed the running lay-in as Benavente grabbed the rebound. Benavente had two open looks to win the game with shots beyond the arc but came up short as time expired.

“We had a really rough start, losing our first and third game in Pool play but got stronger as we played more games together,” said Santos. Santos said her team was using the experience for the upcoming Asian Indoor Games scheduled for September in Turkmenistan.

Santos, Duenas, Wilson and Mia San Nicolas will represent team Guam in September as Guam participates in the Indoor Games along with other sports for the first time.

“Surprisingly, the 3-on-3 pace is faster; the change of possession is quick so we have to adapt to that. We also need to work on our pick-and-roll offense because we don’t have the height,” said Santos.

Derin Santos uses the pick for a drive to the basket. (photo Raine Delos Reyes)

The Men’s final

It was another Guam National Team final with the team of Russ Wesley, Jonathan Galloway, James Stake and Mekeli Wesley winning the tournament over Tai Wesley, Willie Stinnett, and Earv Jose. All three Wesleys are brothers.

With 1:34 left in regulation, Galloway made a lay-in and was fouled to put his team up 10-6. Tai Wesley then took over the game sinking a shot behind the arc for two points (3-pointers in 3 X 3 games are counted as two points) to cut the lead to 10-8.

Tai Wesley scored again and was fouled, tying the contest at 10-10 with less than 20 seconds remaining. Russ Wesley had the ball in his hand and was heavily guarded by Stinnett to look for the winning basket. Russ Wesley looked to take Stinnett to the post but instead shot a short fade away that found the bottom of the net with five seconds remaining to go up 11-10. Tai Wesley quickly put up a shot, but it was no good as the final buzzer sounded.

“Willie (Stinnett) was guarding me tough the whole game and I knew in my head there was about five seconds left on the clock. I picked my spot where I wanted to put up a shot, leaned my shoulder in to him to create some space and let it fly,” said Russ Wesley.

Curtis Washington flies in for a layup. (photo by Raine Delos Reyes)

Russ Wesley went against his brother Tai Wesley in the final and there was some sibling rivalry going on in the game.

“It was fun playing against my brother, it got heated but that’s what we’ve been used to growing up.”

Mekeli Wesley suffered a minor injury in the semifinal game and did not play the championship game.

The Wesley brothers joined the Guam National Team in the Philippines to play exhibition games against top teams in the country. The defending Pacific Games gold medalists look to win another gold in 2019 but the host country for the Games is yet to be determined. “I heard it was possible that it may be hosted on Guam. It would be so nice to play here at home where we all grew up,” said Russ Wesley.

Slam dunk contest

The fans were treated to a slam dunk competition with Team Guam members Ben Borja and Jonathan Galloway joining KFC Bomber Ledget Glover as participants. All three dinners wowed the crowd with Galloway edging out Glover as the winner.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

June

July 2025

August
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for June

1st

Events for July

2nd

Events for July

3rd

Events for July

4th

Events for July

5th

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Events for July

6th

Events for July

7th

Events for July

8th

Events for July

9th

Events for July

10th

Events for July

11th

Events for July

11th

No Events
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

12th

No Events
Events for July

13th

No Events
Events for July

14th

No Events
Events for July

15th

No Events
Events for July

16th

No Events
Events for July

17th

No Events
Events for July

18th

No Events
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Events for July

19th

No Events
Events for July

20th

No Events
Events for July

21st

No Events
Events for July

22nd

No Events
Events for July

23rd

No Events
Events for July

24th

No Events
Events for July

25th

No Events
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for July

26th

No Events
Events for July

27th

No Events
Events for July

28th

No Events
Events for July

29th

No Events
Events for July

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18

Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9

 

QUICK HITS

Guam’s Jeremiah Camacho shot a perfect game at the 48th Hong Kong Open. The 22-year-old Guam National Team Member shot his 18th career perfect game on lanes 1 and 2 at Top Bowl Lanes in Hong Kong.
————————————————–
Guam’s athletes performed well in the Spartan Race in Capas Tarlac, Philippines, picking up two division wins and two 2nd place finishes.
Belen Sidell 43 yrs (1st)
Phil Law 58 yrs (1st)
Tess Esma 48 yrs (2nd)
James Sardea 55 yrs (2nd)
Charles Esma 18 yrs (12th)

More in Basketball