
By Robert Balajadia
The road to an ISA Boys Basketball Champion will officially go through the JFK Islanders as the top two seeds of the ISA, the (4-0) unbeaten Islanders and Sanchez Sharks, met Monday evening to battle for the leagues top seed. JFK started strong and held off a late Sharks 4th quarter rally to grab the win, on senior night even, 52-36.
(Interleague records aren’t counted towards regular season)
Islander Karl Vinca scored a strong 23 points to lead his team and the Sharks had no answer for him in the second half. Vinca scored at least five points in every quarter to pace an up-and-down game for JFK. Islander guard Vorel Cruz had 10 key points, including a pair of threes and a buzzer beating shot to end the 3rd period.
“They beat us twice in the pre-season so we wanted redemption against them tonight,” said Cruz on the teams motivation to get the win.
Winning the leagues top seed was a priority for JFK knowing how tough they are to beat on their home floor.
“We’re very confident,” said Cruz on his team heading into the playoffs. “We’ve got a star front court and we rely on them a lot. They’re the stars of our team.”
The Sharks struggled from the free throw line going a horrid 4-of-24 on the night. Moises Manalo and Jerfick Aunu were the Sharks leading scorers with seven points.
Sharks show grit in the 4th
Cruz’s shot to end the 3rd gave JFK a comfortable 39-24, snipping a 6-0 Sharks run as they started to gain momentum. Sanchez came out strong in the 4th going on another 6-0 run to cut the lead to single digits 39-30, the first time the game was within single digits since early in the 2nd quarter.
JFK turned to Vinca who converted two and-one shots to get his team up 44-33. Kirston Guzman provided his biggest buckets in the 4th, hitting a contested jumper from the free throw line, followed by a triple that was product of an offensive rebound by Vinca. Guzman’s three put the Islanders up 49-33 with just under two minute left, but JFK really started celebrating when Jayden Chargualaf put the Sharks away with his late three, his lone bucket of the night.
“We just kept our composure and we had to stop getting rattled by them. We know we’re the better team and we just had to prove it on the court tonight,” said Cruz.
The Islanders will play one last interleague game against the St. Paul Warriors Wednesday evening before the ISA and IIAAG go their separate ways in the playoffs Saturday. Sanchez will also end their regular season Wednesday in an interleague game against the St. John’s Knights.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2025
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- 1
Events for January
1st
LEGACY SPIKEFEST TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
1st
Events for February
4th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
H.S. TENNIS
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
5th
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
H.S. RUGBY
Events for February
6th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
7th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
SINDALU NINJA GAMES
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
9th
Events for February
11th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
Events for February
15th
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
15th
Events for February
16th
Events for February
18th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
20th
ISA H.S. TENNIS
FIBA BASKETBALL: GUAM VS. MONGOLIA
Events for February
21st
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
H.S. RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for February
22nd
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for February
23rd
Events for February
25th
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL

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