NEW LOOK 3×3 SQUAD AIMS FOR GOLD

A preview of Team Guam heading to Palau for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games June 29 – July 9 amongst 24 island nations

By Patrick Lujan

With Guam’s dominance in regional men’s basketball in generations, the weight and pressure is on the new and younger squad heading to Palau for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.

With all the gold of recent Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games, the four-man team of captain Raven Pascual, Kirston Guzman, Rico Taitague and David-Jay (D.J.) Osborn aim to continue the rich history of basketball for Guam in the upcoming 3×3 competition.

“My team and I have been working non-stop on and off the court to stay more than ready for this tournament. we have reached out to former 3×3 gold medalists, asking for pieces of advice and utilizing that on the court as soon as we can,” Pascual said. ” With understanding the game of 3×3, comes repetition of what’s to come – for example, the 12-second shot clock for 3×3 basketball starts as soon as one touches the ball. We have been conditioning ourselves, visualizing game-like situations.”

It is a fast-paced, unique version of basketball where there is no coach and only one backup player on a half-court setting.

“The two (3×3 and 5×5) are similar, yet very different in its own ways. both require a steady mindset, knowing when to react and how to control the pace of the game,” Pascual explained. “3×3 does set this faster play-style, having to score and defend within such a short period of time, which becomes sequences that we have to come ready for.”

With all the pressure and high expectations on keeping the gold train rolling, Pascual and the squad have put in the work and are confident they can defend the gold.

“Ultimately, I’m confident in this squad. we’ve played with and against each other countless of times, so building that chemistry has been smooth-sailing. We understand that not only are we playing at a high-level of competition, but that we’re playing more than just for ourselves – for our families and for our island as well.”

3×3 hoops will get started on Monday, June 30th and play throughout the Games until the ending on July 9th.

Men’s 3×3 Basketball Team

Raven Pascual – Saint Paul ’24 (FIBA 2022 U17 3×3, FIBA 2023 U17 5×5, 2024 Micro Games 5×5, FIBA 2025 U23 3×3)

Kirston Guzman – JFK ’22 (FIBA 2019 U17 5×5, FIBA U17 2022 Mamba Academy, FIBA 2025 U23 3×3)

Rico Taitague – Notre Dame ’24, (FIBA 2023 U17 5×5, FIBA 2025 U23 3×3)

David-Jay Osborn – GW ’24 (FIBA 2023 U17 5×5, FIBA 2025 U23 3×3)