Connect with us

GSPN

PACIFIC GAMES: MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Guam Men’s Volleyball Team will be deploying a young team with majority of their roster being first-time Pacific Games competitors. Although, the young talents that do make up most of the roster do have collegiate experience to usher a new-age for the men’s program.

By Kai Akimoto

With the Guam contingent flying out to Samoa to participate in the 2019 Pacfic Games within the next few weeks, the national Men’s Volleyball team has been preparing rigorously to represent the Island against the region’s top volleyball talent. Under head coach, Joel Quitigua, the team is comprised of the most dedicated and passionate members of Guam’s volleyball community.

“Our athletes have to hold full time jobs. A lot of them have to train and take care of a family. So if you see a national team player, go and give them a hug because they really are sacrificing a lot just because they love representing the island,” said coach Joel Quitigua on the challenges that his team faces in preparation for the games.

Although the roster features some members with more than 20 years of experience representing the island, for a majority, this tournament will be a novel experience. All but two players, JP Taimanglo and Eric Ada, have competed in a Pacific Games and a few players have returned home with collegiate experience under their belt, bringing a uniquely refined level of play to the team.

“It is a first experience for many of these guys. Mostly everyone has represented Guam in some sort of international play, but this is at a whole new level. We just want to start putting players through a system that takes them at a young age and primes them for competition. We’re going to be facing teams that come from islands that have populations that are huge. We might have 50 guys come try out for team while an island like Fiji might have like 1000 or so. They have such a large pool of athletes to pull from compared to us,” said Quitigua on how he aims to use the amount of youth on the team.

The training that the team has endured over the past months in preparation for the Pacific Games has been a true test for each of the players. JP Taimanglo, who has represented Guam for 20 years, is eager to be competing with such a young team.

“There’s a lot of commitment needed to represent the Island. But overall, we are contributing to the community by getting exposure to bring our players to the next level and better the talent on the island.”

The veteran Taimanglo posted up for an interview to talk about being the veteran on the really young squad.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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 GSPN