Trench Tech Purebred Saipan hauls in 19 medals

The Trench Tech Purebred Saipan team took the 2025 Marianas Open International Championship (Gi & No-Gi Tournament) by storm as all 12 of their athletes bagged podium finishes with a total of 19 medals won on Saturday at the University of Guam Fieldhouse. To top it off, both Saipan and Guam’s Purebred team took home second place in the overall Kids Team Gi division.

In the Gi master divisions, professor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez led the way and earned silver in the Male Black Master 46 Open Weight, while Jose Mafnas Jr. claimed silver in the Male Purple Master 30 Open Weight.

The team’s dominance continued in the Male White Adult 18 Middle bracket, where Evert Van Der Maas added a silver and a bronze medal in the open weight. Vicente Masga then took bronze in the Male Brown Adult 18 Feather division.

Among the younger competitors, Gabriel Mitchell earned silver in the Male Orange Kid 6 Heavy; Justo Quitugua won silver in the Male Gray Kid 6 Medium Heavy Category and bronze in the No-Gi Male Gray Kid 6 Medium; Gerard Naputi captured bronze in the Male White Kid 6 Light; Jordan Camacho earned silver in the Male Gray Kid 4 Super Heavy division, while Jacqueline Quitugua secured silver in the Female Gray Kid 4 Ultra Heavy.

The team’s young girls continued their medal streak with Aiyani Rios earning silver in the Female Gray Kid 4 Feather and Athena Feger taking silver in the Female White Kid 2 Rooster division.

In the No-Gi categories, Van Der Maas then struck gold in the Male White Adult 18 Middle.

In the youth male categories, Mitchell repeated his silver performance in the Male Orange Kid 6 Heavy, and Gerard Naputi won gold in the Male White Kid 6 Light. Umatalaf Naputi added a bronze in the Male Gray Kid 3 Light Feather, and Jacqueline Quitugua picked up bronze in the Female Gray Kid 4 Ultra Heavy. Meanwhile, Rios earned another bronze in the Female Gray Kid 4 Light, closing out a consistent weekend for the Purebred squad.

For 30-year-old Vander Maas, he said that this competition was fun and was a great experience. “It was incredibly exciting to compete in front of such a huge crowd and represent both Trench Tech and Saipan. I learned a lot from going up against people with different styles of Jiu-Jitsu. It definitely made the matches more challenging and fun. Every round taught me something new and pushed me to adapt.”

Taking gold along with his silver and bronze, he said, “Taking first place meant a lot to me. It made me proud of all the hard work I’ve put in, and even more proud of my teammates and training partners who helped get me here. I won the final by back triangle to armbar submission, and it felt amazing to finish strong.”

He added, “What really stood out to me was how supportive the Trench Tech and Purebred team was. I honestly think we had the most unified and encouraging presence at the entire Marianas Open. Seeing other competitors there on their own made me realize how lucky I am to be part of a team that truly has my back. I was just as proud watching my teammates win their matches and take home medals as I was about my own performance. It’s amazing to be part of this family and it feels great to bring those medals home to Saipan.”

For Alvarez, he said of the team’s performance, “I am always proud of my team for getting out there and competing. Jiu Jitsu is always evolving, and everyone, both kids and adults, are constantly improving and preparing for competition! Everyone shined this year in victory and defeat. In victory, they gained more confidence and drive, and in defeat, they gained that burning and yearning desire to improve and get better for the next tournament. We call it "WIN OR LEARN!" and all my students walked away from their tournament experience [as] better competitors and better human beings.”

When asked whose performance stood out the most, Alvarez said, “All of them competed in different age and weight categories as well as different belt levels. As I mentioned above, they "all shined" in their own way. I can tell you that all of them had amazing moments in all their matches at one point or another. I believe that the team as a whole stood out because we were cheering each competitor on and that made the team as a whole remain steadfast and willing to give it their all, all the time!”

As for his match, he said it was bitter sweet as he lost the gold medal match and settled for silver. “In as much as I wanted to win, as we all do, I was just happy to compete and inspire all my students and lead by example.” He had to go up a weight class to compete. He registered for the Masters 5 Black belt but no one else was in it, so he had to compete in the Open Weight Absolute Black Belt division. His first opponent was 186-lbs and his second opponent was 260-lbs, so they were a lot heavier than he was. All in all, though, he came out healthy and happy that he made two new lasting friendships.

He then thanked all their sponsors, families, parents, and friends of all the team’s athletes. “I'd like to thank all our sponsors for their generosity and support in making this trip possible. I'd like to especially thank all the parents and friends and families of all our competing athletes for supporting their child and relatives and their untiring devotion and continued assistance and help throughout the years, months, weeks and days leading up to every event.”

The team’s sponsors are 4EverCNMI, AA Ent. Inc., Aiyani Rios, Bravo Kitchen & Bar, Bridgette Camacho, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, D&Q International Distributors, DC Pro Rental, DNLR -Parks and Recreation, Gold’s Gym, Healing Stone, James and Sophia Choi, Lani Diaz, Loco & Taco, Marianas Pacific Distributors, Inc., Marlynn Castro, Professor Anthony Torres, Trench Tech, Inc., Uma and Gerard Naputi, and Westbrook Family.

By Leigh Gases