MADRAZO TWINS BRING DOUBLE THREAT TO JFK

By Carmen Gogue

Twins Jordan and Josiah Madrazo are juniors (Class of 2025) attending John F. Kennedy High School and currently play for the Islanders boys basketball team.

The boys are proving to be JFK’s special duo this season for the ISA Boys Basketball league, scoring big each game and possessing tough defense to get past.

Young Start

Growing up, the Madrazo boys watched their parents Symon and Jessica play the sport of basketball and knew they wanted to follow in their footsteps.

“Our mom and dad would bring us to their games, and we’d watch them play. Watching them, we knew this is the sport we wanted to play,” said Jordan.

For the boys, it was their parents who truly inspired them to play basketball. “They would get off early and make sacrifices just to drop us to practice and our games,” added Josiah.

The pair began playing basketball when they were only six years old. Their first experience playing on an organized basketball team was under the Tamuning Typhoons coached by Elsa Ulloa.

Following their youth leagues, the boys attended St. Anthony School for their junior high years. While with the Raiders, the two played under the Payumo brothers Danny and Ruben. “They really helped me a lot. They improved my IQ of the game, and gave me confidence in my shot”, said Jordan.

JFK Journey

The boys moved to JFK in the fall of 2021, just a year after the height of the Corona Virus pandemic. The twins are currently coached by Rey Serafico for the Islanders. Playing together throughout their childhood and now into their high school careers, it is imminent they enjoy it.

“We even confuse other teams, they don’t know which one of us they’re guarding. It’s fun having him [Jordan] because I know where he’s at and he knows when I’m going to give it to him,” said Josiah.

Jordan also touched on how it feels to play alongside his brother at a higher level, “It’s amazing having someone who has my back, knows what my strengths are and knows where to give me the ball. We just feel so much good chemistry out there and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without him.”

For advice to other siblings or twins that play a sport together, the boys wanted to share that even though one twin or sibling may be off during a game, do your best to complement each other and pick each other up through their mistakes.

Josiah hopes to further his education in college after his senior year while Jordan says he will take the opportunity if it arises to play basketball past the high school scene. Jordan hopes to make the Guam national team in the near future, “I would really like to represent Guam and win gold medals for the island.”

The Madrazo boys shoutout and thank their parents, coach Elsa Ulloa, the Payumo brothers, coach Darren Hechanova, Robert Vasquez, Chris Connor, their teammates, and Islanders head coach Rey Serafico for the players they are today.