
By Robert Balajadia
The St. Paul Warriors hadn’t challenged a team from the ISA since being bounced from the GSPN preseason basketball tournament by the JFK Islanders back in January. Monday provided St. Paul a shot at redemption as they traveled to JFK for the first round of the Guam Basketball High School National Championships.
St. Paul rode a big 4th quarter defensive wave, led by guard Thelo Orichiro, to stun the recently crowned ISA Champions 59-46.
GBC National Championship Scores
The Warriors found themselves in the third seed of the IIAAG after not electing to participate in interleague play this season. Losses were given to the Warriors to account for the total amount of games played which put them in 3rd place behind the Harvest Eagles, despite finishing with the 2nd best record in the league.
Wednesday will feature the FD Friars vs. St. Paul Warriors for the fourth time this season while the Guam High Panthers and Harvest Eagles will compete for a spot in the Championship Game.
Warriors pull away
The Warriors had been trailing majority of the contest until an Orichiro bucket in the lane would give them a 37-35 lead early in the 4th. The Islanders were stuck in a championship hangover, but explosive guard Rodson Simina would nail a three to give JFK the lead right back 38-37 as they appeared to be headed towards a big run.
Both teams would trade buckets until another Orichiro bucket from the low block would get the Warriors up 44-42. A missed shot from Jeremiah Kintoki led to a corner three from Orichiro to extend the lead 47-42, forcing a JFK timeout with three minutes remaining.
“We took over on the defensive end. Coach always tells us we win on defense, not on offense, so no matter how many shots we miss we have to get back on defense,” said Orichiro.
Islander forward Ralf Manalac would make a trip to the free throw line down 49-44 with a chance to cut the lead to a single possession, but Manalac would miss both attempts with a little under two minutes left to play.
Orichiro would put the game out of reach after intercepting a poor pass, leading to a fast break score to put his team up 54-44 with 53 seconds left to play.
“It was definitely in that 4th quarter,” said Thelo on when the Warriors saw their opportunity to strike. Coach told us that if we wanted to win then we better get at it on defense.”
Thelo would lead all scorers with 17 points. Simina would lead the Islanders with a team-high 16 points.

Reyes big-time minutes
The JFK Islanders were red hot in the opening period, hitting four three pointers for an early 16-9 lead. JFK would get a big lift from their home crowd, but the Warriors would get an even bigger lift from their big-man Joel Reyes.
Warriors starting center Illac Lalic was out due to illness which meant more minutes for reserve Reyes, and he was ready for his number to be called. Reyes converted on back-to-back scores to turn a double-digit JFK lead to 18-13 in the 2nd quarter while also quieting the loud Islander crowd.
Reyes would provide more energy plays in the 3rd, tying the game at 28-all after a clean-up bucket.
“I just felt like tonight was my night,” said Reyes on his big performance. “I had to pick up my teammates even if we were down. We told each other to pick our heads up. The more that we doubt ourselves then the further we’re going to get from that ‘W’.”
Joel would finish with 12 points and his team couldn’t help but celebrate him post game.
“This is everything that I worked so hard for, it’s my mindset. It’s not about minutes to me, it’s all about hard work and dedication,” said Reyes on his elevated role.
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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
11th
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
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
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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