
By Robert Balajadia
The Guam Youth Leadership Cup 3X3 Basketball Tournament came to an exciting end Saturday evening with a handful of Panthers emerging victorious, earning a free trip to Bali to compete in the Leadership Cup in late September.
The tag-team group of siblings under the team ‘TD’ included Taneea and brother Tamarrein Henderson and Dillan and Damian Dela Cruz. The team split their matches Friday evening before getting a chance to compete in the final four Saturday. It took a ton of effort to defeat two sets of Okkodo teams, but the champs were able to win it on a last second shot from Taneea in the final seconds.
The back-and-forth battle against the Underdogs in the Championship Game was knotted at 13 in the final six seconds. Dillan Dela Cruz made a move to the basket and threw up a floater, but couldn’t beat the buzzer despite banking in the would be game-winner. That didn’t stop them from pushing through in the OT.
For the 3X3 OT period, it becomes a ‘sudden death win by two’ scenario.
Dela Cruz went to work in the post to give his team a 14-13 lead when the Underdogs quickly tried to answer. A corner three pointer from Dale Bautista was well off as Taneea corralled the rebound. After clearing the ball on the wing, Henderson made a move she used in the same game to get free, hitting a spin move towards on her rack attack to create space for a floater that hit nothing but net. Henderson’s bucket gave TD the two-point spread, securing her teams chance to compete in the Youth Leadership Championships in Bali.
“I wanted to be aggressive and try and get the points that we needed, but I was willing to dish the ball out for a better shot,” said Taneea on her decision making in the final seconds.

Team TD celebrates around Taneea Henderson after hitting the game winning bucket in OT to send the team off to Bali. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Dela Cruz had the mid-range game working all evening and he knew that weapon was going to be key in the tough playoff matches.
“I’ve been practicing those shots for a long time and I just like that was going to be needed today,” said Dela Cruz.
None of the four members have ever been to Bali, but the trip wasn’t the only thing on the kids minds as they just wanted to play ball in front of their family.
“It wasn’t the motivating factor,” admitted Dela Cruz on the Balie trip. “My family was my motivation because they’ve been here through thick and thin.”
“It’s definitely an exciting opportunity. We came into this hoping for the best and we really played our best so we’re proud of that,” added Taneea.
The team will depart with AJ Carlos next month, Guam’s ambassador for 3X3 basketball. Carlos will have practice sessions with the group to get them better acclimated with the 3X3 style and what to expect when facing international competition.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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