Connect with us

Basketball

ISLANDERS CLAIM ISA’S TOP SEED OVER SHARKS IN BATTLE OF UNBEATEN

The unbeaten JFK Islanders and Sanchez Sharks battled for the ISA’s top spot Monday evening.

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.

Wendy’s Players of the Game: Vorel Cruz (5) and Karl Vinca (45)

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.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

November

December 2023

January
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
Events for November

1st

Events for December

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for December

3rd

Events for December

4th

Events for December

5th

Events for December

5th

No Events
Events for December

7th

Events for December

8th

Events for December

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for December

10th

Events for December

11th

Events for December

12th

Events for December

12th

No Events
Events for December

14th

Events for December

15th

Events for December

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for December

16th

No Events
Events for December

18th

Events for December

19th

Events for December

19th

No Events
Events for December

21st

Events for December

22nd

Events for December

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for December

23rd

No Events
Events for December

24th

No Events
Events for December

25th

No Events
Events for December

27th

Events for December

27th

No Events
Events for December

29th

Events for December

29th

No Events
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
Events for December

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

  • IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
  • True Grit Rugby Tournament
  • IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs

QUICK HITS

The Au Mana volleyball club claimed their 2nd straight Lady Triton Volleyball League champions with a straight set victory of the Guam Pro 1 team.
——————————————————-
Four fitness athletes recently represented Guam in the Tokyo Olympia Amateurs 2023 competition in Japan.
Danielle Reyes – Classic
Joel Tudela – Classic
EJ Rosete – Classic
Alexander Slomka – Men’s Physique

More in Basketball