
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
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