
By Robert Balajadia
The ND Royals showed Saturday why they’re considered one of the leagues top teams after beating the defending champion GW Lady Geckos 24-7 in the final game of Week 2 of the IIAAG rugby season. ND also defeated a tough Okkodo squad in the earlier game as they remain the lone unbeaten team this far.
Taking center stage in the match was Royal’s Hana Takano, who scored her teams first three tries on the day. Takano scored two in the first half to give her team a 10-0 lead and then added one more in the second half to answer a Gecko try from Daeleen Pangelinan to extend the lead 17-7.
“We came in a little bit nervous and I guess the first score really got the jitters out of everyone. We came together to play as one like we always do,” said Hana on her early scores.
As for Takano’s scoring tries, she might have earned a new nickname with how she described her break away speed.
“I just saw an opening and took it. Just dropped the clutch, måpos,” laughed Hana.
Royal Taylor Paige Aguon added the finishing touches on the game with a late try in the second half as Austia Mendiola successfully converted that kick after for the 24-7 final.
Dictating the speed of the game was a key aspect for the Royals and their head coach Conrad Kerber hasn’t let them take their foot off the gas pedal.
“They know that everything has been set from ground zero this year. We set a game plan and it’s up to us to implement that game plan. I see how important it is for us to set the pace of the game and have the other team have to react to our pace. We were able to do that today, set the tone and set the pace,” said Kerber.
It’s still an early in the season, but the Royals do remain the lone undefeated girls team after two weeks of play. With Kerber back on the coaching grind, he now leads a talented group of girls backed with a lot of familiarity. A handful of his current players on his roster now were playing under him at Bishop, which has helped in the transition to coaching high school rugby.
“I saw a lot of my middle school talents on this team and a bunch of their parents asked me to see what I could do with this team. It was easy to get that core group together and everyone just feeds off of that. It’s inspiring to see them continue to do what I’ve coached. There is still a lot of room for improvement,” added Kerber.
Week 2 Scores
Boys Varsity
Sanchez 15, Tiyan 5
Okkodo 20, Southern 6
FD 38, JFK 5
Girls Varsity
Sanchez 15, Academy 0
Tiyan 5, JFK 0 – forfeit
ND 25, Okkodo 5
GW 17, Southern
Tiyan 10, Academy 0
ND 24, GW 7
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2019
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for December
3rd
HS Girls Basketball
HS Boys Beach Volleyball
HS Boys Soccer
Events for December
4th
Events for December
5th
HS Boys Beach Volleyball
HS Boys Soccer
Events for December
7th
Bubble Run 5K
HS Wrestling
HS Boys Beach Volleyball
Events for December
8th
Events for December
9th
Events for December
10th
HS Girls Basketball Semifinals
HS Boys Beach Volleyball
Tritons Men’s Basketball Championship
Events for December
11th
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
15th USO Rock and Run For Our Heroes
HS Wrestling
HS Boys Beach Volleyball Tournament
HS Girls Basketball Championship
Events for December
18th
Events for December
19th
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
Events for December
22nd
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
26th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
28th
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Events for December
29th
Events for December
30th
Events for December
31st

Basketball
BULLDOGS ADVANCE TO SEMIS, FINAL FOUR SET

Volleyball
ODD DAY OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Basketball
BULLDOGS ADVANCE TO SEMIS, FINAL FOUR SET
Foody’s 5 Fun Facts
Tiyan Titan Calib Naputi
Polls
DID U KNOW?
The FD Friars have retired running back Kein Artero’s (#3), becoming the third Friar in three years to have his number retired. 2018 saw two numbers be retired from quarterback Daniel Phillips (#6) and De’Aundre Cruz (#24).
COMING SOON …
– Girls Basketball Semifinals on Wednesday
– NFL Week 15: Bills at Steelers
– Jon Tuck in Bellator Japan Dec. 29
– IIAAG/GDOE Split on Jan. 1st
– GSPN Preseason Basketball Tournament
QUICK HITS
Coach Terry Stotts will be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Stotts moved to Indiana for his junior and senior years of high school after five years on Guam.
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Bubba Nickles makes a stop at the Guam marker of the World War II Memorial in Washington DC during a team trip to the capital with the reigning national softball champion UCLA Bruins.
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GSPN celebrates 8 years! Chartered 11/11/11