UH men's basketball team to be honored at banquet
Advertiser Staff
By now, everybody knows that the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team played in the NCAA Championship Tournament for just the third time in history earlier this month.
But who was the most outstanding player for the Rainbows this season? Was it Predrag Savovic, Troy Ostler or Nerijus Puida? How about the most inspirational player?
That will be revealed at the team's awards banquet on April 5 at the Hale Koa Hotel. No-host cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and program to follow.
Tickets are $35 per person. For information, call the UH basketball office at 956-6501.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
• Seasiders swept: Julie Strand had five hits in a doubleheader as Southern Colorado swept Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, 3-2 and 9-0, yesterday at La'ie.
The Seasiders, playing their 21st and 22nd games in a span of 16 days, fell to 12-27.
Lyndi Frei was the hard-luck loser in the first game, yielding two unearned runs while the Thunderwolves built a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh.
BYUH's Maggie Reynolds hit a two-run double to make it 3-2, but she was stranded at second.
Jill Munro pitched a two-hitter to win the second game.
AWARDS
• Big Island Sportsman: Alan Kaneta, who is a volunteer basketball and soccer coach at Hawai'i County's Andrews Gym for youths in the Waiakea neighborhood, has been named the Big Island's 2000 Sportsman of the Year.
Kaneta, who was among the unpaid coaches and recreational figures nominated for the annual award, was cited for his emphasis on family and school and then on sports in the winning nomination submitted by Bellia Riveira-Poy.
Kaneta joins 16 monthly and co-monthly winners of the Athletes of the Month Award in the program sponsored by Don's Grill of Hilo.
Kaneta was presented the award earlier this month by Ramon Goya, retired University of Hawai'i-Hilo athletic director. Riveira-Poy said Kaneta teaches fundamentals, discipline and respect in "a nonintimidating manner. He's a true role model," Goya quoted the nominator as writing.
Kaneta, a father of three, said he has patterned his work after former UHH basketball coach Jimmy Yagi and former all-star guard Bill O'Rear, now a Hilo sports editor. "They taught me to be there for the right reasons," he said.
The program also honored Ryan Masuda, the 2000 state high school golf champion, as Athlete of the Year. The former Waiakea High star now attends Purdue University.
