About 200 Japanese students gathered at the Calvo Field House Thursday afternoon for some sporting and cultural activities. High school students from Wasegaku High School interacted with local youth athletes playing Futsal and Basketball tournaments as well as Cultural dance and weaving activities.

The students, from Kanagawa, Japan, separated in three different areas of the Field House simultaneously with each in groups to play basketball or futsol or participate in cultural activities. The students are visiting Guam for four days and objective was to experience life outside Japan.

The students from Japan had several teams for basketball and invited the national youth teams to play in a friendly tournament.

Coach Jimmy Yi and Eddie Pelkey gathered members of the under-18 girls and under-17 boys team to play against the high school students. In the end, both Guam teams won the tournament with the boys winning 34-6 and the girls winning 23-5 in a six minute exhibition tournament. Both Guam teams won three games in the preliminary round to advance to the championship game.

The Guam teams used the exhibition as a simulation to expose themselves against players from different countries. “It gives our team an opportunity to play against people that don’t practice with us and players who don’t know what we are doing. It helps our coach identify areas of strengths and weaknesses to work on as we further our preparation,” said U18 girls team member Brittany Meno.

The U18 team will be competing in December in the Pacific Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji. The U17 boys will leave from July 24-30 to Palau where they will partake in the Marianas Basketball Tournament.

Yuka Hirose, a third year high school student, played Futsol and said she enjoyed the experience. “The activities were great. I really enjoyed my time here on Guam, the sightseeing and beaches are very beautiful,” said Hirose. Hirose said her main sport is tennis, but she enjoyed playing Futsol as well.

The objective of the trip was not only about sports, but also about learning a different culture. Yutaro Sugaya chose to take part in the dancing and weaving activities.

“Its such a different culture from Japanese culture, im glad I am learning different things. This is my first time here and I love looking at the nice beaches, it kind of reminds me of Okinawa. Ill definately come back and visit again,” said Sugaya.

2000 shots to honor Olympic Day

By Robert Balajadia

In honor of National Olympic Day, both the Junior Nationals boys and girls teams stormed the FD Phoenix Center to take part in a 2000 shots ceremony.

The two teams split the courts and had to each combine for shots made which they wrapped up rather quickly. In just 25 minutes, both the teams finished up their shots with the girls finishing over five minutes earlier than the boys.

Brandon Soriano made 199 shots for the boys and Meghan Cruz made 200 shots for the girls after the coaching staff put into question Elysia Perez’s 201 shots made.

The Junior Nationals girls team. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Shots made girls

Meghan – 200
Leesey – 201? *Coaches disagreed.
Chloe – 176
Shania -157
Brittany – 156
Monica – 144
Haley – 76
Total: 1,110

The Junior Nationals Boys Team. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Shots made boys

Brandon – 199
Isaiah – 197
Gabe – 185
Christian – 176
Kollin – 172
Richard – 162
Tony – 157
Marc – 150
Jacob – 100
Total: 1,498