By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
RESILIENCE, discipline, and an unwavering love for the game are driving a group of local high school basketball players, the Saipan G-Rollers, who officially headed to Guam to compete in the highly anticipated Mall Ball 3×3 Summer Circuit High School Tournament, which tips off at the Micronesia Mall Center Court in Guam.
For team captain Enzo Sasamoto (16), Patrick Guerrero (16), Austin Hoepner (17), and teammate Keanu Silva (17), the tournament represents far more than a shot at a trophy — it is a hard-fought triumph over recent adversity.
The journey to the tournament has been anything but easy following the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku. The storm left Saipan’s sports infrastructure heavily damaged, leaving local athletes with severely limited options for training.
“It’s been extra difficult to train ever since the super typhoon hit our island,” Sasamoto said, noting the island’s current lack of organized leagues, training camps, and functional facilities.
Undeterred by the lack of indoor courts, the G-Rollers took their preparation to the streets. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the squad frequented whatever public courts they could find, playing strictly at the mercy of daylight due to a lack of court lighting. They also spent their free time sharpening their ball-handling skills in their own driveways.
Over the last two and a half weeks, the team intensified its regimen, waking up for grueling 6 a.m. practices lasting up to three hours, with Sasamoto stepping up to design training plans and coach the squad. Meanwhile, Silva, who relocated to Guam shortly after the typhoon, maintained his own training routine on the neighboring island.
Beyond the physical toll of training, securing a spot in the tournament required immense personal sacrifice. With local sponsorships scarce during the island’s recovery efforts, Sasamoto took financial matters into his own hands, using personal savings he had been accumulating since the beginning of the year to anchor the trip.
“I paid for everything out of my own pocket to secure our spot, and fortunately my teammates were able to chip in what they had to help cover the rest of our fees,” Sasamoto said.
The G-Rollers are eyeing the tournament as a vital proving ground. With local competitive outlets temporarily sidelined on Saipan, the high-level intensity of Guam’s 3×3 circuit offers much-needed exposure and a chance to test their mettle against different playing styles.
“My team and I are more excited than ever to finally be able to compete again,” Sasamoto said. “It is a much-needed break from all the recent stress everyone’s been experiencing, and we hope to do our best to represent our island. Win or lose, we will learn so much from this opportunity. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
The team’s departure is fueled by deep gratitude for those who helped pave the way. Sasamoto extended his thanks to his family, teammates, and their parents for their dedication and financial support amid the ongoing recovery efforts. He also credited his former coach, Joe Diaz, for instilling the fundamental basketball skills three years ago that laid the foundation for this run.
The Saipan G-Rollers departed Thursday morning, carrying the spirit and resilience of Saipan with them to the Center Court.
The Mall Ball 3×3 High School Tournament begins Friday, June 19, at 6 p.m., and continues through the weekend.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
