Nov 23, 2023
Thursday, November 23, 2023 – 17thPacific Games, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Weightlifters carried the weight of Guam's medal count adding two silvers to Team Guam’s medal count. Ethan Elwell began the day lifting 135kg in his first Snatch attempt which placed him in medal contention. However subsequent successful lifts by his Nauru and Tahitian counterparts at 136 and 137kg forced him to a successful 2nd attempt. He delivered at 140kg which secured a silver medal. The gold was handily snatched by Samoa’s Nanai Livi Manu snatching 150kg, then 155kg, before bowing out at his attempt at 160kg.
Elwell missed his first two attempts in the clean and Jerk but was able to clear the 165kg in his third attempt, missing the podium as Nauru lifted the same weight on his first attempt. Elwell’s combined total of 305kg earned him a second silver medal in the event which brings the total medal count to 4 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
On the tennis court, two of Team Guam men’s athletes dropped their singles match. Danny Llarenas was unable to recover from the grueling team contest falling to Tuvalu’s Matthew Pese 3-6,4-6 in the Round of 32. While Arman Sachdev was unable to move on to the Round of 16 against the strong Tahitian Reynald Taaroa 0-6, 2-6. Sachdev won the only Round of 64 match for Team Guam on Wednesday’s contest. Monte Fremont advanced to the Round of 32 on the women’s division as both Sydney Packbier and Leila Mercado fell out of contention.
Competition at the Aquatics Center was fierce as the preliminary and final rounds continued. Israel Poppe qualified for the men’s 100mFreestyle finals finishing 7th place as he continued to improve on his time with a 54:38 lap. Mia Lee duplicated Poppe’s feat with a 7th place finish in the women’s division on a time of 1:01.11. The relay team of Poppe, Keana Santos, Lee, and Benjamin Ko finished the Mixed 4x50 free style relay in 5th place to end the night.
Women’s Basketball ended day 4for Team Guam as they competed against Tonga in the consolation match for 5thplace. Team Guam got off to a slow start trailing the taller Tongan team at the half 36-23. It was a whole different team as the last two quarters showed Team Guam’s tenacity on defense, shutting down the Tonga offense, allowing four points in the third quarter, as Guam ladies inched their way back into the contest down a bucket going into the last quarter.
Team Guam completed the comeback in the fourth quarter with a couple of three pointers hitting the mark by Joylyn Pangilinan and baskets by Destiny Castro and Brittney Bailey. Team Guam also managed to clear the boards in the process as they ended the 17th Pacific Games on a high note outscoring Tonga in the second half 12-33 taking 5th place with a 56-48 win.