Guam Rugby Club wins 1st Marianas Rugby Cup

The Guam Rugby Club bested teams from the Marianas Rugby Club in the one-day Marianas Rugby Cup tournament at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Braving the scorching sun, the rugby 7s players of all ages and sizes took to the field as spectators cheered them on from the stands from 10am to around 2pm in an action-packed Saturday.

The well-established GRC etched their name first in the perpetual cup after blowing the recently developed MRC teams out of the water in all of their matchups.

In the men’s division, GRC won two matches over MRC JV, 45-0 and 17-7; and two matches against MRC varsity, 26-5 and 28-26. In the women’s division, GRC slipped past MRC, 24-20; edged MRC, 26-14; and flew by, 33-0 in the last matchup.

The MRC women’s team included captain Tatiana Mettao Pangelinan, Yuriko Kawakami Castro, Aiko Rasiang, Maria Castro, Davian Atalig, Marley Castro, Dakota Matagolai, Richelle Tsunami Ramon, Kailani Laniyo, Ti’ana Villanueva, Maria Fathangin, and Vivalyn Yangirelit.

The MRC Blue JV team was made up of Jeffrey Quitugua, Hayden Igisomar, Masan Igisomar, Luis Claridades, Walder Simram, Stanley Choway, Caleb Yug, Albrent Lucido, Taiyo Desebel, Neo Skerei, Carlos Chutin, Daniel Taisakan, Jesse Olopai, and R.J. Mendiola.

The MRC Red varsity team consisted of Trey Aiken, Oscar Setefano, Koji Taisakan, Jason Limes, Frankie Basa Jr., Brad Fritz, Cain Castro, Irvin ‘Stallion’ Olopai, Matt Reyes, Mamerto Forbes, and Darien Quitugua.

GRC included Justin Tanguileg, Joe Mateo, Jerome Uson, Rebwato Choban, Christopher Leon Guerrero, Zayven Piolo, Jayven Mendiola, Josiah Mendiola, Jude Mendiola, Antonio Victor, Jaython Leon Guerrero, Ryan Paulus, Amiotonu San Nicholas, Donavan Degracia, Chris Toro, and Troy Fritz.

The Guam women’s team was made up of Jenesis Vita, Jaicia Cabrera, Cadance Mansapit, Tiarah Muña, Elexis Gogue, Tori Starr, Victoria Botelho, Katrina Penlaflor, Sherald Mae Alvarez, Jaeana Leon Guerrero, Caeley Leon Guerrero, Alexandria Cruz, and Rosita Kuper.

MRC board member Koji Taisakan said, “Rugby from the outside perspective seems like a really tough and rough sport, but I have yet to play another sport that has this type of camaraderie. Yes, we’re tough on the field, but we encourage each other if we miss a hit [and] if we make a mistake.”

He said that Rugby 7s is a “fast-paced sport” and there is no time to sit and mope on mistakes as there are just seven minutes in two halves.

Taisakan said, “We’re looking forward to playing in Guam next year for the annual tournament that Guam Rugby Club hosts—Tru GRIT (Guam Rugby International Tournament). [The] last time the MRC went down to Guam for the Tru GRIT in 2019, we placed in the Top 5 out of 14 teams. So, we’ve come a long way from where we were four years ago.”

Taisakan added that it was a great turnout and appreciates all the supporters. “We’re greatly honored to have them all come out and bless us with their presence. A huge thanks to our club president, Mr. Sean Ficke, for coming in and [making] this tournament become a reality… To our food and catering, and especially to our chefs, chef D.J. and Blu Taitano.”

Setefano said during the tourney that MRC was a group of just 10 people, but now there’s about 60 players. “I want to encourage more young people to come out—especially girls,” he said.

MRC then thanked their following sponsors Monster Pizza, MARPAC, Shirley’s Catering, D&Q, Saipan Ice and Water Co., Pacific Rim, Hertz, UR Tents, Latte Built Gym, Triple J, Takumi Restaurant, and the Northern Marianas Sports Association.