Chaminade upset spawned tourney

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

When Chaminade guard Jaborri Thomas plays in the EA Sports Maui Invitational tomorrow, he will join a list of stars who have prospered from what has been called the greatest upset in college basketball history.

"I look at the tournament as a reward for what they did in the past," Thomas said. "I'm always grateful. The school doesn't get too much national exposure."

This year's tournament is likely to lure more than 3,500 out-of-state visitors who are expected to boost Maui's economy by close to $9 million, said Maui Visitors Bureau executive director, Marsha Wienert. In addition, Chaminade officials said the tournament helps in recruiting, enhances public relations and injects money into the 1,000-student school that was relatively unknown until the Virginia upset.

"That win put us on the map," said Mike Vasconcellos, Chaminade's athletic director in 1982. "It created the Maui Invitational."

Ralph Sampson, Virginia's 7-foot-4 All-American who returned for the 20th anniversary of the upset, said the game remains a "great remembrance for both schools." He called the Maui Invitational an "impressive tournament."

"I'm just glad to be one of the components that helped start it out," said Sampson, who after an All-Star career in the NBA, founded the Winners Circle, an organization that provides sports opportunities for youths.

Following the 1982 upset, then-Virginia head coach Terry Holland approached Vasconcellos with an idea for the Silverswords to host a tournament.

Vasconcellos agreed, and after a trial in Konawaena on the Big Island in 1983, the tournament moved to Maui's War Memorial gym in 1984. But coaches and players complained about the 30-minute drive from their Wailea hotel to War Memorial, so the tournament was moved again, Vasconcellos said.

"The next year we looked for another location, and this is where we came up with Lahaina," Vasconcellos said. "It was the perfect destination. You had the hotels and the gymnasium right next to each other."

During the 18 years on Maui, the tournament has seen its share of famous MVP players, including Michigan's Glenn Rice (1988), Syracuse's Billy Owens (1990), Duke's Bobby Hurley (1992), Memphis State's Anfernee Hardaway (1992) and Chaminade's George Gilmore (1991).

"It's amazing to me that one game has spawned this entire event," Chaminade head coach Aaron Griess said. "I wouldn't have a job if it wasn't for that win.

"The tournament keeps this department alive," Griess continued. "It's a marketing tool for the university. It's name recognition. People know Chaminade because of that upset. To do without this tournament would be a major impact."

Chaminade President Sue Wesselkamper said the invitational gives the school "wonderful public relations opportunities" and annually brings in approximately $150,000 for the school.

The future of the tournament appears healthy, at least for the next decade, after ESPN and tournament producer Chicago-based KemperLesnik signed a 10-year, multi-million-dollar television contract that will ensure a minimum of nine games televised live on ESPN or ESPN2 through 2011.