Connect with us

Basketball

THE PREVIEW: 2018 GSPN PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL TOURNEY

The GSPN Pre-season Basketball Tournament presented by the Guam National Guard and the University of Guam is scheduled to start on January 13th with 11 teams making an appearance.

By Jay Leon Guerrero

It’s that time of year again, high school basketball is almost upon us!

The GSPN Pre-season Basketball Tournament presented by the Guam National Guard and the University of Guam is scheduled to start on January 13th with 11 teams making an appearance.

The FD Friars, Guam High Panthers, Harvest Eagles, JFK Islanders, Notre Dame Royals, Okkodo Bulldogs, Simon Sanchez Sharks, St. John’s Knights, St. Paul Warriors, Tiyan Titans and the FD JV team will take the court for the week long tournament with one common goal in mind: to get better.

The Southern Dolphins and GW Geckos have both elected not to participate in the 2018 Tournament.

The main objective, of course, is to improve and get better to be ready for the IIAAG season.

“This preseason tournament we’re focused on meshing as a team. We have been working hard leading up to this debut, but we’re focused on the long grind. We are looking to see which areas we’ll be needing to improve for the regular season and making a possible push for post season play. We have high hopes and aspirations, this preseason tournament is our first outing and were excited to compete,” said ND head coach Josh Torres.

Torres, a first time coach for boys high school basketball will enter his first pre-season tournament.

Last year, the St. John’s Knights won the pre-season championship over the St. Paul Warriors at the FD Phoenix Center. However, it was the Warriors that had the last word after winning the IIAAG championship, going undefeated for the season.

Four years ago, the S.t John’s ‘fab five’ freshman class had all the potential to win multiple championships under head coach Fred Peters, but has been upset multiple times in the playoffs. This year, they are all seniors and look for the defending pre-season champions to have another strong showing in the GSPN tournament. Michael Min, Gavin Moore, Isaac Sim, Tony Hsieh and Takumi Simon are hungry for the IIAAG title; could this be their year?

“Every time we step on the court, we are playing to win so that is our goal. But ultimately, I think we’ll use the pre-season tournament games to pin point our strengths and what we need to work on and really gel together as a team,” said Hsieh.

After winning the pre-season tournament, the Knights started the 2016-2017 season with a pair of early loses. But the Knights learned from last year and will come into the season with a stronger mentality.

“I think the most important thing after the pre-season tournament is to not get complacent, constantly work hard and to strengthen our weaknesses,” said Hsieh.

Although the Knights are the defending pre-season champs, the Warriors will probably have the largest target on their back after winning the IIAAG championship last year. They have a majority of their key players back from last year and they will look to continue their dominance.

Reigning IIAAG MVP Jason Diaz will lead a stacked Warriors squad with a dominating back court of Jahmar White, D’Angelo Gallardo, Reo Aiken and Thelo Orichiro. The Warriors have the best team chemistry in the league and they will continue to pressure their opponents and force turnovers.

The FD Friars will have the luxury of playing on their home court. Good news for the Friars, they will have Mark Temerowski back after he missed the entire season last year with a knee injury. The Friars went to the championship game last year, falling to the Warriors in the final minute. Key seniors returnees will be DeAundre Cruz, Tomas Calvo and Kyle Gaitan.

Here is a look at last year’s top scorers for the IIAAG season.
(*denotes graduated senior)

*Kobe Sotelo, Harvest – 21.09 ppg
Michael Min, St John’s – 19.45 ppg
*Shannon Enriquez, Okkodo – 18.09 ppg
*Ken Brozo, GW – 17.36 ppg
Takumi Simon, St John’s – 17.0 ppg
*Juan King Jr., Guam High – 16.54 ppg
*RJ Kranz, Guam High – 15.45 ppg
*Anthony Castro, Sanchez – 15.0 ppg
Kyle Gaitan, FD – 15.0 ppg
*Athan Arizanga, Okkodo – 13.9 ppg
Alschea Grape, JFK – 13.9 ppg
D’Angelo Gallardo, St Paul – 13.5 ppg
De’Aundre Cruz, FD – 13.3 ppg
Jahmar White, St Paul – 12.6 ppg
Fabrick Ramos, GW – 12.57 ppg
Tony Hsieh, St John’s- 12.36 ppg
Jason Diaz, St Paul – 12.2 ppg
Tomas Calvo, FD – 12.09 ppg

GSPN pre-season champions:

2015 – GW Geckos
2016 – GW Geckos
2017 – St John’s Knights

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