Savovic 'serious' about playing in midnight hour

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

On a night based loosely around the "Survivor" television show, Predrag Savovic was able to outwit, outlast and outplay his teammates during the Coors Light Midnight 'Ohana.

Savovic scored a game-high 16 points and guided a furious rally in leading the Green team to a 34-28 overtime victory over the White in an intrasquad scrimmage that served as the highlight of the event.

The annual Midnight 'Ohana serves as the season-opening practice for the Hawai'i men's basketball team. A crowd of around 4,000 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the unveiling of the 2001-02 team.

"We do this every year to get the fans excited about the season," head coach Riley Wallace said. "And the players certainly gave them some excitement."

Savovic, an All-Western Athletic Conference guard and the leading scorer on last year's team that won the WAC Tournament championship, was perhaps the most exciting, even if he did take twice as many shots as any other player on the court.

"Every time we play, we take it serious," he said. "It's kind of entertaining, but you know, we have to get serious. It's the beginning of the year."

The event started with the players participating in various "challenges," just like on the Survivor program. By the end of the night — actually early yesterday morning — Savovic and his Green teammates earned the bragging rights.

The White, led by forward Phil Martin's 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, held a 26-19 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the 24-minute regulation. But over a 30-second span, Savovic broke away for two layups that cut the deficit to 26-23 with 28 seconds remaining.

"We were on a roll, we had it going," Martin said. "But we were unorganized and I guess everyone was panicking."

Point guard recruit Mark Campbell hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it at 26 and force an impromptu 2-minute overtime.

Savovic scored the first basket of overtime to ignite an 8-0 Green surge that sealed the game. He shot 7-of-15 from the field. No other player on either team attempted more than seven shots.

"In a game like this, I would have liked to see him pass more," Wallace said. "But he's a competitor and he wants to win."

Savovic has been on the winning team for all three of his Midnight 'Ohana appearances.

The Green played without forward Mindaugas Burneika, who sat out because of an infection on his left forearm.

The Green was coached by K5 television broadcasters Jim Leahey and Artie Wilson; the White by KCCN radio broadcasters Bobby Curran and Jeff Portnoy.

Prior to the scrimmage, the UH Wahine defeated the men in a 3-point challenge. Each team selected five players to take five shots apiece. The score was tied, 15-15, but April Atuaia beat Mike McIntyre, 4-3, in the tie-breaker.

Newcomer Luc-Arthur Vebobe won the slam-dunk contest with a powerful windmill jam off a bounce pass to himself.

"These guys are not in shape yet, obviously," Wallace said. "But there's a lot of potential. Now it's time to put it to work."