
By Robert Balajadia
The Girls Basketball Playoffs are a little over a week away and the JFK Islanders are focused on moving up in the standings. The Islanders grabbed a win over the Tiyan Titans 47-28 to move to (4-9) on Black Friday to improve their chances at hosting an opening round playoff game at 5th place.
JFK got double-digit scoring from forward Frencine Villena (12 points) and freshman guard Laila Smartt (11 points), who also hit three three-pointers. Smartt caught fire in the 3rd period scoring eight points in the quarter.
“I shot like 10 and only made three,” laughed Smartt when asked if she was feeling in a groove to keep shooting. “You just got to keep shooting and some will go in.”

Smartt wasn’t shy, letting shots fly as her teammates gave her plenty of open looks, adopting the ‘shooters shoot’ mentality.
“[My teammates] set good screens to get our shooters open,” added Smartt.
The Titans were led in scoring by guard Aspen Balbis’s eight points and teammate Jordyn Palconit added seven.
Tiyan kept the contest close in the 2nd period before a defensive spurt from JFK gave the visiting team a slight edge. A steal and score from Jada Hahn followed by another steal and score from Isabella Roberto put JFK up 15-8. Tiyan showed grit to keep the score 19-13 at the half before JFK took over in the 3rd.
Smartt knocked in back-to-back triples from the left wing, using a layup to cap off a personal 8-0 run to go up 33-19.
JFK took their largest lead after a rebound and long assist from Villena to Roberto had the Islanders up 45-25 with two minutes left to play.
“We need to win our next two games coming up to get in the playoffs so right now we’re just focused on that,” said Smartt.
JFK will face the St. John’s Knights next week and the make-up game between the Sanchez Sharks is still to be determined. The Titans also have the Sharks and Knights on their schedule, including a rescheduled game against the Okkodo Bulldogs.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:








GPS Sports Calendar
November 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
3rd
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for November
4th
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for November
4th
Events for November
7th
Events for November
9th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
10th
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for November
11th
Events for November
14th
Events for November
16th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
CHAMPION V CHAMPION: ACADEMY VS SANCHEZ
Events for November
18th
TRIPLE J COLOR BUBBLE RUN 5K/10K
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FINALS
Events for November
18th
Events for November
20th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
21st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
22nd
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
22nd
Events for November
25th
HAGGAN 18’s VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
Events for November
27th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
Events for November
28th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
28th
Events for November
30th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Pacific Games
CHARGUALAF FOR THE TAEKWONDO GOLD

Pacific Games
KENT GARNERS SILVER IN 10K RACE

Baseball
TRIDENTS HARD-LUCK LOSS TO KINGS

Basketball
FIJI UPENDS GUAM IN BASKETBALL FINALS

Pacific Games
LEE BREAKS OWN 50M MARK IN PACIFIC GAMES

Pacific Games
VETERAN LLARENAS SHARES GOLDEN THOUGHTS

Baseball
TRIDENTS HARD-LUCK LOSS TO KINGS
COMING SOON …
- 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands (Nov 19-Dec 3)