Hatohobei in the Belau Games, March 2006: Many Winners
in Canoe, Weightlifting, Swimming, Track & Field, Wrestling, Triathlon

Vol. 34 No. 4
©2006 Marianas Variety Tuesday, March 21, 2006 www.mvariety.com
Peleliu tops wrestling events with 10
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) —Third Place overall Peleliu grabbed a total of 10
medals (4-2-4 G-S-B) in wrestling competitions of the Belau Games with Elgin Elwais winning three of them. Hatohobei seized eight (4-2-2); Koror (also had eight (1-5-2); Sonsorol (1-2-3); Angaur (2-1-0); Ngatpang (1-1-0), Ngardmau (0-1-0) and Ngchesar (0-0-1). Elwais won the lightweight category in beach wrestling, which is being held for the first time in Palau. Hatohobei’s Masao Umedip settled for the silver while Soonsorol’s Bow Umedip and Koror’s Dez Hesus got bronze each. In the hevayweight category, Angaur’s Blodak Roberts took the gold while Hatohobei’s Wayne Andrew for the silver and Jeffrey Patris and Stalin Stanley also of Hatohobei went for the bronze. In the freestyle event, Ken Tarkong of Hatohobei took the gold in the 55kg class while Koror’s Harkins Miner for the silver and Sonsorol’s Bradley Besal for the bronze. In the 60 kg, Elwais (gold); Koror’s Roger Baca (silver); and Koror’s Yangilmau Rengulbai (bronze). Ngardmau’s Brict Feliciano prevailed in the 66kg for the gold, Koror’s Maech Kumanagai for the silver and Sonsorol’s Chris Richard for the bronze. Koror’s only gold in wresttling was won by Franson Gibbons in the 74kg of the freestyle event. Sonsorol’s Alvin Yangrelbug took the silver. Hatohobei’s Wayne Andrew and Ngiwal’s McRay Yobech won the gold and silver in the 84 kg. In the 120kg category, Blodak Roberts of Angaur went away with the gold while Ngiwal’s Jesus Takawo won the silver and Peleliu’s Melvin Gufnay had the bronze. In the Greco Roman event the gold medallists are Hatohobei’s Ken Tarkong in the 55kg; Elwais in the 60kg, Ngatpang’s Peasley Ngraibakes in the 66kg, Sonsorol’s Alvin Yangrelbug in the 74kg, Andrew in the 84kg and Gufnay in the 120kg.

Vol. 34 No. 4
©2006 Marianas Variety Tuesday, March 21, 2006 www.mvariety.com
Peleliu wins 2 of 4 gold medals in triathlon
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) —Peleliu won two of the four gold medals staked in triathlon competitions of the Belau Games at the KB Bridge last Wednesday. Xyrus Salii and Evelyn Otto ruled the junior men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. Another Peleliu competitor IB Misech took the silver in the junior men’s category. Leon Mengloi of Ngardmau won the bronze. In the open men’s class, Koror’s Marcus Hangaripai bagged the gold while Ngerchelong’s Einer Kebekol won the silver and Tino Faatuuala of Ngardmau settled for the bronze. Ngerchelong’s Burang Skang was the lone competitor in the open women’s class for the gold.

Vol. 34 No. 4
©2006 Marianas Variety Tuesday, March 21, 2006 www.mvariety.com
 Sonsorol gets 62 medals in weightlifting
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Runner-up Sonsorol captured a total of 62 medals in the weightlifting competitions of the Belau Games at the Kalau Gym that overshadowed Hatohobei, which is led by the Patris family. Sonorol had a 16-20-26 gold-silver-bronze tally while Hatohobei went home with 16-15-7 for a total of 32 medals. Koror got 12-9-1 while Ngaremlengui seized 5-4-9. Valerie Pedro, gold medallist in the Mini Games, won the gold in the 75kg of the snatch, clean and jerk as well as the total lift for Sonrol while teammate Wanita Pedro settled for the silver. Alexandrina Patris of Hatohobei won the gold in the 69 kg while Sonsorol’s Ines Kintoki for the silver and Hatohobei’s Angie Bismark for the bronze. In the 75 kg, Chandis Cooper of Ngaremlengui took the gold, silver and gold in while Sonsorol’s Melanie Nestor silver gold silver and Maecy Theodore, also of Sonsorol won all three bronze in the category.Christalina Andrew of Hatohobei dominated the 53 kg while teammate Madeline Bismark settled for the three silver and Sonsorol’s Imee-Lou Pedro for the three bronze. In the men’s snatch, clean and jerk, Ngartemlengui’s Jenner Techechur took the three gold; Dean Terry of Sonsorol won in the 85 kg; Alex Sumor of Koror in the 94 kg, Nicholas Aquino Jr. of Sonsorol in the 105kg and Perry Hideo of Koror in the 105+kg. Stevick Patris of Hatohobei also prevailed in the 56kg for the gold in the snatch, clean and jerk and the total lift; while Koror’s Ricky Yangiteitil won the gold in the 62 kg and Smith Pedro of Sonsorol ruled the 69kg.

Vol. 34 No. 4
©2006 Marianas Variety Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Koror nets 32 medals in swimming
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) —Overall champion Koror hauled most of its medals in the swimming events at the Palau National Pool in Meyuns with 32 on the strength of 15 gold, nine silver and eight bronze. Some of Koror’s gold medallist are Szarotka Narzakalski (girl’s 100m IM) with a time of 1.43.43 and 25 freestyle ­ 17.76); Jeri Temengil (girl’s 50m and 25m breaststroke); Amber Sikosang Yobech (girl’s 50m backstroke—36.87 seconds and freestyle ­ 32.94); Amber/Barbara/Szrotka/Joni (100m IM relay ­ 1.23.22); Golan Merep (25m boys freestyle); Maria Gibbons (25m girl’s freestyle—15.65); Isao Misech (25 boys’ freestyle ­ 13.55). Olympian Evelyn Otto took three gold (50m butterfly, 25m butterfly, 25m freestyle), five silver (100m Im, 50m freestyle, 25m freestyle, 100m freestyle relay, 100m freestyle open and one bronze (100m medley relay) for Peleliu. Peleliu were able to compile a total of 26 medals (6-11-9) while Sonsorol had 23 (11-5-7). Hatohobei took 10 medals (1-5-4) while Ngarchelong had 0-12 and Ngardmau got 0-1-1.

Vol. 34 No. 1
©2006 Marianas Variety Thursday, March 16, 2006 www.mvariety.com
Peleliu, Koror lead way in canoe events
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The women’s team of Peleliu and the men’s team of Koror dominated the canoe events of the Belau Games on Friday March 10 at the Meyuns Seaplane Ramp. Peleliu won the gold in women’s marathon race with a time of 52.17 while Hatohobei (52.50) got the silver and Koror settled for the bronze (53.06).
In the men’s side, Koror took the gold in 1:02.47 while Ngardmau went for the silver (1:05.45) and Hatohobei won the bronze (1:06.19). Peleliu won a total of five gold medals with Jerome Renguul winning the 500M V1-junior men race with a time of three minutes and 14.54 seconds. Meriu Antonio of Koror got the silver (3.131.16) and Masao Umedib settled for the bronze (3.46.21). Dayna Sebakim of Koror won the gold 500M V1 junior women race with a time of 3.34.29 while Jenna Mersai of Peleliu got the silver (4.12.59) and Christaling Andrew went for the bronze (4.19.45). Ngardmau got its gold in the 500m V1 men open race courtesy of Tino Faatuuala with a time of 2.33.37. The silver went to Bennette Ruluked of Koror and Peleliu’s Ben for the bronze. Peleliu’s other gold came from Pkngey Otobed in the 500M V1 women open race with a time of 3.19.64. Freda Delamau of Koror settled for the silver while Mendila Harong of Hatohobei for the bronze. In the other sprints, Peleliu also won the 500M V6 women open race with a time of 2:39.35 while Koror took the silver (2:42.03) and Hatohobei for the bronze (3:03.68). Koror took the gold in the 500M V6 men open race with a time of 2:13.83 while Peleliu went for the silver and Ngardmau for the bronze. In the 1500M, Peleliu took the gold, Hatohobei for the silver and Koror for the bronze. In the men’s side, Koror took the gold, Ngardmau for the silver and Hatohobei for the bronze.


Vol. 34 No. 1
Koror paces over all lead
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Koror pulled away with the over-all lead in the medal standings even as Peleliu, Ngardmau and Hatohobei continued to give a big challenge after Day 4 of the Belau Games. Unofficial tally showed that Koror has 10-11-10 gold-silver-bronze medals as of presstime last night. Some finals in track and field and swimming have been completed last night but no available results yet as of presstime. Santolin Patris won the first gold stake in archery by winning the women’s singles to give Hatohobei its fourth gold in the overall standings. Hatohobei also took silver in the women’s team event in archery courtesy of Santolin Patris, Cheryl Patris and Madeline Bismark. Hatohobei is now in second place with 15 medals (4-4-7 gold-silver-bronze). Peleliu is behind in third place with 14 medals (8-4-2 gold-silver-bronze), counting its five gold medal it hauled at the conclusion of canoe competition at the Meyuns ramp on Sunday. But that could be higher by now, since sprinter Ngerak Florencio, who just came from New Zealand to represent Peleliu, was expected to win at least four gold in track and field. Evelyn Otto is also a sure gold medallist at the pools. Ngardmau added two gold medals in tennis competition at the Airai courts yesterday with Keith Igancio and Akiko Udui winning the men’s and women’s singles respectively. It also won a bronze in women’s team in archery courtesy of Del Kinziro, Verna Kyota and Carmel Hanser. Ngardmau is now in fourth with 11 medals (5-4-2 gold- silver-bronze). Based on the official website, sports that have awarded their medals are canoe, table tennis, lawn tennis, wrestling and archery. Games are still being played today in tomorrow in archery, athletics, baseball, basketball, softball, lawn tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, volleyball, and weightlifting. As of presstime last night, official count showed that Ngarchelong has 3-2-1 in fifth; Ngechesar 0-1-4; Sonsorol, 0-2-2; Ngatpang, 0-0-3; Ngiqal 0-2-0; Amgaur 1-0-0. Aimeliik, Airai, Melekeok and Ngeremlengui are still out in the medal tally.


 Vol. 34 No. 1
©2006 Marianas Variety Thursday, March 16, 2006 www.mvariety.com
Peleliu enters gold game in men’s basketball
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr. For Variety

KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Peleliu posted its scariest win over Ngchesar, 56-55, on Sunday in what could be the preview of the battle for the gold in men’s basketball of the Belau Games at the Palau National Gymnasium. The win sent Peleliu to the finals at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow. Despite the loss, Ngchesar still has the chance for the gold but it will have to beat the winner between Koror and Sonsorol in the loser’s bracket. Peleliu won its first game against Ngiwal, 83-46 then against Koror, 68-65. Ngchesar defeated in successions Ngaremlengui, 78-75, Angaur, 79-69, and Sonsorol, 66-55. Koror beat Ngarchelong, 67-56 and Hatohobei, 66-51, before it lost to Peleliu. Koror, however, recovered with a 81-74 win against Ngarchelong. Sonsorol won over Ngatpang, 75-63, in its first game then beat Ngardmau, 86-48, before it lost to Ngchesar. Sonsorol, then, went on to advance with a 91-73 decision over Ngaremlengui.