By Robert Balajadia
Colonia, Yap – The mission to defend a gold medal in volleyball got off to a rough start for the Guam Men’s Volleyball team as they fell in straight sets to Kiribati 25-22, 25-18, 25-18. Guam opened up Friday morning with their volleyball debut, but bad passing and poor defense overshadowed good flashes from Guam’s potent bunch.
Kiribati picked on the Guam backline as they repeatedly attacked the middle of the defense. With a heavy front, Guam’s backline defenders were often regulated to dive to make a defensive play, which often resulted in points for Kiribati.
With the score tied at 17 in the opening set, Kiribati started to make their move as they pulled ahead 22-19 after Guam errors. A kill from the Kiribati middle put them at set point and a kill from the backline did Guam in 25-22.
The second set proved close in the beginning with Devin Maluwelmeng getting a monstrous kill to get within 9-8. It was short lived as Kiribati used a short 5-1 run to get ahead 13-8. An ace from Kiribati put Guam down 16-10. Kiribati smashed a free ball up the middle to take a 22-16 lead before eventually running away to a strong 25-18 set.
Guam’s Brendyn Padayo got hot from the service line early in the 3rd where he scored two aces which gave Guam a 6-3 lead. Kiribati quickly burned a timeout and regrouped, going on a 4-0 run to take the lead 7-6. Kiribati’s middle then hammered down a vicious kill through the defense of Misaki Cramer to go up 14-9.
Kiribati lined up their hitters as the continued to pound away to a 23-16 lead, eventually taking the match 25-18. The loss drops Guam to (0-1) in their Micro Games debut. Guam will get a shot at redemption against the home team Yap Saturday morning.
Guam’s ladies make their Micro Games debut at 3 pm (Chamorro Standard Time).
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GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
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8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
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9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
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9th
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14th
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16th
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19th
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20th
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22nd
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25th
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27th
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28th
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29th
- 31
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Events for March
30th
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Volleyball
ST. FRANCIS’ GUERRERO IS VOLLEYBALL MVP
Volleyball
CHEN, EUGENIA ARE EMPRESSES OF THE BEACH
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon