A Guam Rugby Club player attempts a punt during a game against Marianas Rugby Club 1 in the 2nd Annual Marianas Rugby Cup tournament at the Oleai Sports Complex on Saturday.
Marianas Rugby Club 1 and Guam Rugby Club set up for a scrum during a game of the 2nd Annual Marianas Rugby Cup tournament at the Oleai Sports Complex on Saturday.
GUAM Rugby Club successfully defended their title in the 2nd Annual Marianas Rugby Club tournament by beating two Marianas Rugby Club’s teams at the Oleai Sports Complex on Saturday.
Three Marianas Rugby Club teams represented Saipan — MRC 1, MRC 2, and MRC Women’s.
MRC 1 consisted of Koji Taisakan, Oscar Setefano, Cain Castro, Jesse Olopai, Jason Limes, Matthew Reyes, Donald Pangelinan, Mamerto Forbes, Luis Claridades, Gregorio Sablan, Claude Celis, and Freddie Guerrero.
MRC 2’s team members were Darien Quitugua, Jeffrey Quitugua Jr, Stanley Choway, Kevin Ruwaath, James Venus, Caleb Yug, Daniel Taisakan, Reed Camacho, Darren Duenas, and Andre Jones.
MRC women’s team featured Tatiana Mettao Pangelinan, Tahira Mori Setefano, Maria Castro, Ti’ana Villanueva, Vivalyn Yangirelit, Davian Atalig, Jahsmin Ramon, Kailani Laniyo, Aiko Rasiang, and Fina Faisao.
Guam sent two teams — GRC and GRC Women’s.
The GRC players were Damian Carbuillido, Palikun Welly, Reiko Mendiola, Zeke Santos, Henry Mendiola, Jude Mendiola, Justin Tanguileg, Manny Cruz, Brandon Burgos, Joe Mateo, Jayton Penaflor, Ryan Paulus, Jerome Uson, Troy Fritz, Amiotonu San Nicolas, and Thomas Cruz.
The GRC Women’s team members were Cadance Mansapit, Clara Wong, Danielle Robles, Elexis Gogue, Jaevoleen Guzman, Jaeana Smoak, Jaicia Vita, Iolana Nidine Untalan, Ha’ane Taitano, Rozlyn Mendiola, Victoria Botelho, and Tori Starr.
Dominant
GRC displayed dominance throughout the event, beating MRC 2 in the opening game to secure a seat in the championship round where they bested MRC 1 twice to retain the Marianas Rugby Cup.
To top it off, GRC Women’s also emerged victorious against MRC Women’s.
“It’s been a good day of games,” said Marianas Rugby Club captain Jason Limes. “There were a lot of injuries but we’re trying to stay strong. We tried our best to get this cup back but, unfortunately, we didn’t do good enough. We’ll try harder next year,” he added.
Limes said compared to last year, “I feel like we’re still at the same level just because we practice as a team for a bit and then a lot of the players tend to disappear and new players come in, and it’s like starting all over again.”
He added, “Skill-wise, it goes up, then throughout the year it goes down because of the absence of veteran players. It’s like a yearly cycle. We’re getting better but then we have to start all over again.”
Limes said the MRC is trying to form a federation that can help the local teams improve by hosting more games, among other things.
He noted that Guam supports its teams by sending them to annual events such as the Marianas Rugby Cup.
“It’s always a good time when Guam comes over. They’re like brothers and sisters to us and they help us in terms of learning the sport, and this is how we give back to them – by hosting the annual Marianas Rugby Cup tournament,” Limes said.
Next year, MRC is looking to send teams to Guam in hopes of competing in one or more tournaments.
In last year’s Marianas Rugby Cup, Guam bagged the title after winning all seven games against Saipan’s teams.
