
By Robert Balajadia
The veteran leadership of the JFK Islanders senior-heavy team will be relied on quite a lot this season and it showed in just their first game of the season against the Tiyan Titans in Tiyan.
With the new ‘best of five’ format being implemented this year all regular season, JFK put away the Titans in straight sets 25-15, 25-17, 25-18.
Leading the way for the Islanders was middle blocker Kiana Rivera who finished with 12 total kills with a steady pace of three, five and four kills in each set. Rivera’s early kills in the opening set, flurry of kills late in the second and run-ending kills in the third had the Islanders never playing from behind. And knowing that their game nights are going to be longer with the new format, Rivera and the Islanders have been preparing for the grind.

“The past few weeks we’ve been training for this. Tonight we did our best to compose ourselves and focus,” said Rivera on the extra set.
Winning the Shieh Preseason Tournament had already put the league on notice that JFK is playing for keeps this season, but even still, the seniors needed to shake off some first-game jitters. JFK broke away from a 12-all opening set score with a 13-3 run, fueled by two kills and ace from Rivera to go win the set 25-15.
“We’re all still nervous, but we pulled through at the end. We made mistakes but we were able to overcome that,” added Rivera.
Teammate and fellow JFK senior Frencine Villena also had a strong opening set where she would secure three kills as Villena ended the night with seven total.
JFK started to work in their rotations midway through the second set and majority of the third. Errors would keep the Titans close in the final set and head coach Alden Buatista wasn’t too pleased with how his team finished the game. In the post game huddle, Rivera shared that the overall message from her head coach was simple: be better.
“We could do better. Coach expects a lot from us this year and we’re going to do better,” said Rivera.
JFK faces two tough opponents in their upcoming games as they travel to St. Paul Friday and the face last years second place team, the dangerous St. John’s Knights next Tuesday. The Titans will get the weekend off before traveling up North to face the Sanchez Sharks next Tuesday.
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
FAMILIAR FOES TO MEET FOR HOOPS CROWN

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs