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Andersen AFB men’s basketball team excels in Yokota AFB tournament

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
Team Andersen's men's varsity basketball team dominated the competition at the Yokota Far East Warrior Basketball Classic held at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 6-12.
The tournament was the first of three tournaments to be held in the Pacific region. The team will play in the Osan Christmas Tournament Dec. 13-18 at Osan Air Base, Korea, and in the March Madness Pacific-wide Championship held here Mar. 15-20.

"The Warrior Classic [was] the Pacific-wide pre-season tournament for all military services and [was] the first step to winning the PACAF Triple Crown Award," said Gerard Barnes, the Coral Reef Fitness Center's athletic director and coach of the team.

Lt. Col. Brian Hinsvark, 36th Force Support Squadron commander, presented the championship trophy to Brig. Gen. Phil Ruhlman, 36th Wing commander, Nov. 25 in order to recognize the team's accomplish for the wing in front of the home crowd.

The team finished with a 6-1 record in the tournament and averaged a margin of victory of more than 29 points. The lone 3-point loss came at the hands of Yokota AB.
Senior Airman Julian Phillips, 736th Security Forces Squadron, and 1st Lt. Nicholas Welch, 36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron earned All-Tournament team honors. Lieutenant Welch, who averaged 23 points per game, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"It was a tremendous honor to represent the 36th Wing in such a positive way by winning the first tournament of the year," Lieutenant Welch said. "We are excited to get better as a team and continue to positively represent the 36th Wing throughout the entire basketball season."

According to Mr. Barnes, the team's members were selected after a series of rigorous tryouts and an evaluation of the team member's character. Mr. Barnes stated team members must have outstanding duty performance to make the 15-member squad.

"Each team member, both coaches and players, serve as ambassadors for the 36th Wing and the Guam community, in addition to being very positive role models for others to emulate," Mr. Barnes said.