TEAM Trench Tech Purebred Saipan continues to prove their worth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by winning eight medals — one gold, three silver, four bronze — in the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament Fall 2024 at the Father Duenas Pheonix Center on Guam Saturday.
Leading the list of Trench Tech’s medal winners is 13-year-old Justo Quitugua, who claimed gold in the Teen-Juvenile Gi Division, besting Guam’s 13-year-old Neo Peroy, via points, 12-0, in four minutes.
Quitugua’s teammate, Trey Ke’koa Manglona, won two silver medals in the Gi and No-Gi divisions.
In the Teen-Juvenile Gi Division, 13-year-old Manglona’s first opponent was Guam’s 13-year-old Mason Taitague. Manglona scored two points, but was submitted by Taisague 2:06 into the match.
Manglona was supposed to fight for the bronze medal, but his opponent was a no-show so he advanced to the gold medal match against Taitague. Once again, he was submitted by his opponent 3:13 into the match and had to settle for a silver medal.
Manglona also competed in the Teen-Juvenile No-Gi Division where he was submitted at 1:43 in the gold medal match by his opponent, Guam’s Xavier Schacher.
Jacqueline Iris Quitugua bagged silver in the Junior Gi Division. The 9-year-old defeated Guam’s Amelia Tadio-Lujan, 12-0, in three minutes and trounced Guam’s Robyn Dayrit, 16-0, in three minutes to advance to the gold medal match.
Jacqueline Quitugua, however was submitted by Guam’s 9-year-old Raegan Paulino, who scored six points before Quitugua was forced to tap at 01:11 and settle for the silver medal.
Aiyani Rios, for her part, won bronze in the Junior No-Gi Division. The 9-year-old was defeated via submission at 01:45 in her semifinal match against Guam’s 10-year-old Faith Schacher.
But Rios redeemed herself in the bronze medal match against Guam’s 8-year-old Sophia Patricio, winning via decision in three minutes.
Adding another bronze to Trench Tech’s collection was Urijah Wolf Sablan in the Peewee No-Gi Division. The 7-year-old started strong with a 14-second submission win against Guam’s Taga Taitingfong in the quarterfinals, but was submitted by Guam’s Madden Untalan, 9-0, at 01:08 in their semifinal match.
Sablan then emerged victorious by points in a two-minute bronze medal match against Guam’s Napu Blas.
The third bronze medal of Trench Tech was claimed by 8-year-old Umatalaf Naputi in the Junior No-Gi Division. In a semifinal match, he was submitted by Guam’s Lenox Reyes within 11 seconds, but Naputi managed to win by points in a three-minute bronze medal match against Teagan Johnston, 5-0.
Last but not the least on Trench Tech’s medal list was 12-year-old Alexander Diaz, who earned a bronze medal in the Teen-Juvenile Gi Division.
The other Trench Tech competitors who saw action on Guam were Gabriel Mitchel and Jordan Camacho.
“All the kids were outstanding! We brought nine kids down and are coming home with eight medals!” said Trench Tech coach Cuki Alvarez.
There are two Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournaments held each year — in summer and fall — and Trench Tech has entered and competed in every one of them since it first started in 2022.
“Each tournament, the competition gets stiffer! This forces us to continue improving and sharpening our skill set in order to keep up with the ever-advancing competition!” Alvarez said.
“Trench Tech Purebred Saipan would also like to thank all our sponsors and supporters who helped get the team to compete in the tournaments. Without your generous assistance, we would not have been able to compete and represent the CNMI,” Alvarez added.
Trench Tech’s sponsors and supporters are Monster Energy, Century Hotel, Hafa Adai Rent-a-Car, Marianas Variety, McDonald’s Saipan and Guam, Mike Atoigue, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Pokka, Vice Speaker Joel C. Camacho, Roil Soil and Shayne Villanueva, the Saipan Mayor’s Office, Sammy Manglona, Turnkey Solutions, 4ever CNMI, 670 Rocksteady Shop, AA Enterprises Inc., All Star Sporting Goods, Boarderline, Cepeda Tent Rentals, DC Pro Solutions, Department of Fire & EMS, Garapan Restaurant, Inas Kitchen, Java Joe’s and Jinhyeok Shin.
Trench Tech team members pose with the medals they won in the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament Fall 2024 at the Father Duenas Pheonix Center, Guam, on Saturday.
