SPEARFISHERS LOOK TO WIN GOLD AGAIN

A preview of Team Guam heading to the 10th Micronesian Games from June 15-24, 2024 in Majuro, Marshall Islands

By Patrick Lujan

Team Guam heads to Majuro in the upcoming weeks to part in the 2024 Micronesian Games and our spearfishing team looks to defend its gold status.

Veteran James Borja is the team manager this time around and will lead the four-member team of fellow competition veterans Todd Genereux and Ray Flores along with Barnaby Acfalle and Anthony Borja.

Guam has taken the gold in the last three Micro Games and hopes to make it a four-peat.

“The guys have been spearfishing any chance they get and if not able to spearfish, they get some swimming sessions in to stay in shape,” Borja said about the team’s preparation.

Fishing in unchartered waters is part of the game in which Team Guam has not had a problem with in previous gold medal achievements – Palau (2010), Pohnpei (2014), Yap (2018). Note: The 2022 Games was pushed to 2024.

For the waters of Majuro, Borja has conducted a recon mission to see what is to be expected.

“I’ve had the opportunity to spearfish Majuro a couple of times in the past and there is a lot of fish as well as sharks. We are still waiting for the announcement of the selected zones which we’ll then be able to determine the depths, bottom topography, what kind of currents to expect.”

Eight islands are expected to compete in the spearfishing event so Borja is expecting some good competition and good catches.

Genereux and Flores will be counted on to keep the golden string alive as the primary duo, but Borja is confident in the alternates as well.

“Both Barnaby and Tony have been spearfishing for a while and are excited to be going to their first Micronesian Games. They’ll be our alternates/safety divers.”

The spearfishing events will take part on June 18 and 19.

Team Members
Todd Genereux
Ray Flores
Barnaby Acfalle
Anthony Borja

James Borja, Team Manager

TEAM HISTORY

Team Gold
1998
2010
2014
2018

Individual Gold
1998
2002
2018

Team Silver
2002
2006

Individual Silver
2006
2010
2014

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