Connect with us

Basketball

SHARKS, ISLANDERS ADVANCE TO TITLE GAME

JFK and Sanchez to face off on Thursday

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Simon Sanchez Sharks is heading to the ISA Girls Basketball Championship game after defeating the Okkodo Bulldogs 47-41 in the semifinals Monday night in the Shark Pit.

Zyla Soriano and Ronafe Ollet combined for 17 points to lead the Sharks.

Sharks seniors Ronafe Ollet and Zyla Soriano were key players against a scrappy Okkodo squad.

Ollet had eight points and five steals, Soriano drained three 3-pointers for nine points to help the Sharks advance to the championship game this Thursday against the top-seed JFK Islanders.

The undefeated Islanders defeated the Southern Dolphins 56-27 on their home court. Laila Smartt led the Islanders with 12 points to set up another appointment with the Sharks at location to be announced by Tuesday.

“Of course we are going to be nervous, but we have to keep our energy and effort contained. Whoever wants it more (on Thursday) will come out on top,” said Ollet.

MVP Ollet

The ISA MVP Ollet was aggressive to start the contest, scoring six points in the opening quarter to help the Sharks establish an 11-10 lead.

Soriano follows up with a three-pointer to help the Sharks take a 17-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Okkodo’s Vaysia Blas hits a 3-pointer to open up the second quarter.  Sanchez counters with steals from Ollet and Celine Angeles which led to points in the paint for Kayna Kanemoto. Soriano ends the quarter with another three-pointer to put Sanchez up 28-21 by halftime.

Okkodo starts the second half on a 5-0 run anchored by a three-point play from Hanna Meinik. The Bulldogs started the half with the full court press to put pressure on the Sanchez guards as momentum started to shift in Okkodo’s favor.

Okkodo’s Jasmine Samson hits a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs 32-30 lead, their first lead since the opening quarter.

Sanchez re-takes the lead with Ronnie Cruz and Angeles scoring to go back ahead 37-32. Angeles was key in the third quarter, scoring all seven of her points in the paint to help Sanchez go ahead 42-36.

“We got a little frustrated but we needed to forget about our mistakes and keep moving forward,” said Ollet.

Both teams struggled in the final period as Sanchez nursed a 44-39 with 3:11 left. Soriano nailed a crucial three-pointer with 1:40 left that gave the Sharks some breathing room and they held on to win 47-41.

“We suffered a really bad loss to JFK in the second time around but we’ve improved since,” said Soriano. “We believe in each other and we now have confidence heading into the (championship) game.”

Okkodo will play in the third place game at 5:30 pm on Thursday versus the Southern Dolphins. Samson led the Bulldogs with 11 points, Meinik scored 10.  

The championship game is scheduled for 7:30 pm this Thursday. 

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Sanchez downs Okkodo, JFK dominates Southern

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

June

July 2025

August
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for June

1st

Events for July

2nd

Events for July

3rd

Events for July

4th

Events for July

5th

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Events for July

6th

Events for July

7th

Events for July

8th

Events for July

9th

Events for July

10th

Events for July

11th

Events for July

11th

No Events
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

12th

No Events
Events for July

13th

No Events
Events for July

14th

No Events
Events for July

15th

No Events
Events for July

16th

No Events
Events for July

17th

No Events
Events for July

18th

No Events
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Events for July

19th

No Events
Events for July

20th

No Events
Events for July

21st

No Events
Events for July

22nd

No Events
Events for July

23rd

No Events
Events for July

24th

No Events
Events for July

25th

No Events
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for July

26th

No Events
Events for July

27th

No Events
Events for July

28th

No Events
Events for July

29th

No Events
Events for July

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18

Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9

 

QUICK HITS

Guam’s Jeremiah Camacho shot a perfect game at the 48th Hong Kong Open. The 22-year-old Guam National Team Member shot his 18th career perfect game on lanes 1 and 2 at Top Bowl Lanes in Hong Kong.
————————————————–
Guam’s athletes performed well in the Spartan Race in Capas Tarlac, Philippines, picking up two division wins and two 2nd place finishes.
Belen Sidell 43 yrs (1st)
Phil Law 58 yrs (1st)
Tess Esma 48 yrs (2nd)
James Sardea 55 yrs (2nd)
Charles Esma 18 yrs (12th)

More in Basketball