
By Patrick Lujan
Thirteen straight matches and not a point given up.
No matter what sport, 13 shutouts in a row is beyond impressive.

Paydence Giselle Pangelinan is taking BJJ by storm from her new home in Las Vegas. (courtresy photo)
Nine-year-old Paydence Gisele Manibusan has done just that with a streak of a lifetime in 2017.
The former student of San Vicente School in Barrigada is a jiu-jitsu practitioner with not even two years in the art, but has rocketed her way to the top of her age class already.
“She was just a passive kid and we wanted to build her confidence,” said her dad Joeglenn Manibusan who moved to Las Vegas in the summer of 2015 with a job opportunity. “That’s the real reason why we put her in.”
After starting with Cobrinha BJJ Las Vegas in June 2016 under professor Hector Vasquez, little Paydence would enter her first tournament later in December of that year and would lose to a boy.
“She just kept wanting to roll with it,” Joeglenn said.
At the Pan Kids BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Championship last February, she would lose to the eventual champion.
Since then, an unblemished record. With a busy calendar in only her first year of competition, Paydence already has
eight gold, one silver and two bronze in the 11 tournaments she’s entered.
“She trains every day from 5 pm-8:30 pm. She does the kids and adults classes five days a week. While I’m at her class, I take notes on what her professors are teaching her and we’ll work on some stuff at home. I really can’t keep her off the mats,” the dad added.
With three belt promotions already in her first year, Paydence has set a pretty good direction ahead for herself.
GOALS
“I let her dictate her training. She’s a pretty level-headed kid, so if she wants to take a break, we’ll let her take a break. She wants to go to red belt so she wants to go far. I do tell her if she’s not having fun anymore, just let us know and we can find something else.
“As long as it continues to build her character and respect for herself, shooting up for the positive, I’m all for it.”
In the crazy tempo of west coast competition, the elder Manibusan will be targeting up to eight tournaments in 2018 for his prodige, but the big prize would be back to the Pan Kids in February.
“She’s ready for that and wants to redeem her loss to the kid she lost to last year.”
As for more goals Paydence actually wants to go home school so she can train in the mornings since they open at 7 a.m.
With all that drive and determination, it’s no wonder the domination of 13 matches without giving up a point is paying off in a big way.

Paydence with her brown belt coach Ryan Algomela after winning the gold in the World League playoffs – an invite-only competition two weeks ago in Vegas. (courtesy photo)
NOTES: her mother is Joenelle Manibusan from Barrigada, Joeglenn from Latte Hts. Mangilao; she has a full sponsorhsip from SicChic.com as well as Capital Kitchen Guam.


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
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs