any comments on whos the best baller ever in kona?
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best baller in kona
(43 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Women: Nancy Hoist
Posted 1 year ago # -
Konawaena has had several outstanding players over the years -- in boys and girls basketball.
Nancy Hoist is mentioned above. She is joined on the stars' list by Jessica Hanato, Hina Kimitete, Mana Hopkins and Jazzmin Awa-Williams. All went on to play at the collegiate level.
Brandon Cablay is the most accomplished former Wildcats' star, having played collegiately at Vanguard University in Southern California before finishing in 2002.
Cablay, a 6-foot shooting guard and an amazing dunker for his size, then went on to play in the Philippines Basketball Association, a 10-team professional league in that country.
In his rookie year in 2003 with the Alaska Aces, he helped lead the club to the PBA title and was named the Finals MVP. He was drafted fifth that year by the Aces.
Now at age 32, he is currently in his 8th PBA season.
He played his first three seasons with the Aces, then two with San Miguel, one with Purefoods, and then came back to the Aces as a free agent in the 2007-08 season. He had played with the Aces the past three years.
Cablay has averaged 7.7 points per game during his eight-year career. Not superstar numbers, but he's had a productive career and has been a popular player with the fans.
Alex Cabagnot, a former UH-Hilo standout, is currently playing in the PBA after a successful two-year career with the Vulcans in early 2000.
Some other past Konawaena standouts include Mike Pilapil, Billy Ulu, Lance Kobayashi, Robert Shropshire, Stanton Deguchi and Stephen Texiera.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi-Low that's some great information. Does the name Brian Suezaki ring a bell? Very efficient PG for the Cats. Built like a tank! Later he ruled the UHH intramural league as well as the Prince Kuhio Plaza league. Not to mention numerous open mens leagues. Great guy who gives back. Sorry Brian, I just had to.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks OldG but my name is nothing compared to the likes of Jaime DePontes, Alan Saito, Melvin Hayashida, Warren Gaspar, Kent Takauye, Wesley and Brian Taketa, Taetuna Taetuna, Earl Casil, Cyrus Yamagata, Lee Miyasato, Coach Uemoto, Gary Abrogina, all of the Cabuags, and the list is endless before mine.
Aloha to you for thinking of me!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have the answer! Stan Love. He lived in Kona in the early 80's and played in the men's league. He was a retired NBA and ABA Basketball player who played for the Baltimore Bullets, the LA Fakers (oops...typo) and retired after playing with the ABA's San Antonio Spurs. (jab....right cross...Down goes Frazier!)
Posted 1 year ago # -
If you want to expand the debate, let's say David Robinson, who earlier this decade lived part of year in West Hawaii. Yes, the 7-foot David Robinson who starred at Navy and with the San Antonio Spurs.
So, I guess it would be Robinson, Love, Cablay and Brad Uemoto -- a 7-footer, a 6-10 forward, a high-flying dunker in the 6-foot Cablay and a sharpshooting Uemoto ... who played like a 6-footer despite only reaching that height when standing atop a short ladder.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Did Robinson actually play in any of the Kona Leagues? I called someone who knew he was in Kona before he sold his house to speak to the boys at Konawaena. His mobility was bad that he could hardly dunk. He told me he was strictly a dad because of his back so we may have to start with Stan as an actual player.
If we are ranking players, Steve Texiera would be one of the top players because of his quick jumper and scoring abilities. Jaime was not as great in scoring but he was a "do everything" guard who was heavily relied upon for rebounding, bringing up the ball and scoring.
Warren Gaspar and Gary Abrogina were scoring swingmen who were always dazzling the Kona crowds. Joe Cabuag and Mel Hayashida are very close in the rankings with these two.
Rob Shropshire was a better player after high school but no one in Kona was ever as tall with long arms. David Cabuag, Wayne Casil were the bigs in Kona that were impressive to watch.
The point guards were Jaime, Alan Saito, the late Mike Pilapil, Coach Brad, and Mel Flores.
Every now and then Kimo Lee from Kaimuki (I think) would pop in to Kona and play in the leagues
I am old but this is what I am recalling as of today. There are quite a few younger players but I know you bloggers know them already so i tried to bring out some history.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Brian -- I'm certain David Robinson didn't play in the Kona leagues. So, if you're talking about actually playing, Stan Love would be the man.
I just threw out some names and several you mentioned from Konawaena, including Joe Cabuag, Warren Gaspar and Taetuna Taetuna were very good high school players. Pat Primacio was another solid Wildcat and the list goes on. I also thought you were just talking about Konawaena players. If it's all of Kona, then Kealakehe had some standouts in its young history, like Kyle Teves.
I'm not ranking them, just adding to the forum chatter. But since you grew up in Kona, you and some of your friends could put together a pretty solid list.
Also, it'd be fun if fans could come up with a "Top five" from over the years for BIIF powers Hilo, Waiakea, Honokaa, Kohala, Kona, St. Joe, etc.
It's a big job, but I'm sure you, OldG, Luna 86 and some other diehard fans could come up with a good list. Cutting each school to only five players would be tough.
Good luck ... but for St. Joseph, I'm picking Randy "Helicopter" Apele as my first player. Your turn ...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Don't forget about Jarret Taketa who's still lighting it up in leagues in Kona.When he gets hot he can be unstoppable.His defense is also very underrated.Still looks like he's a young cat
Posted 1 year ago # -
@ Hi-Low
I was going by the thread of "ballers From Kona" so I added Stan and Kimo because they did actually live in Kona and play as well.
There are many players that are young and should be listed because both Konawaena and Kealakehe were invited to the state play-offs in the past 10 years. I was not neglecting them because they are good players in their own right. I was mentioning the Kona of old as a history of what I was fortunate to see.
Just a side note; there was a player named Alfred Rabara that many do not know about. His son was a good player and he also has Michael who currently plays for Konawaena. Alfred might have been the best in Kona and here is why. He was playing in all-star tournaments with men after his 7th grade year. He was a legitimate scorer with a smooth jump shot from range and intermediate distances. His dad, Al Senior was an old school kick butt police officer who was the assistant coach at Konawaena for years. There was a tournment that ran state-wide called the CocaCola Tournament and Alfred was torching anyone who guarded him. The reason not many knew about him is because he attended Kamehameha at Kapalama and did not live up to his standards. John Ursua was great when he was in Kona...phenomenal even...but he didn't play against men in all-star tournaments and lead games in scoring. Tough to compare because individual defense is better today but much more physical back then but the edge from my point of view goes to Alfred Rabara.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@ Hi-low
Randy and I are very close friends. Randy wouldn't mind if I placed some names befor him so here goes!
Ernest DeSilva POY
Arnold Ferreira POY
Stu Gabriel
Lee Loeffler
Carl Ferreira
Jeff Liborio (only because he played college ball)
Rodney Cambra (Because he went to states but Randy would argue about that so this would be a good thread!)Posted 1 year ago # -
Mike Kaleiponi..... Enough Said
Posted 1 year ago # -
aaron sumida, lance kobayashi, billy ulu and the ultimate ghetto rat, jason "mad dog" mederios! david robinson and family stayed at my place for a month. heard he recently sold his home at hualalai. goes to church in waimea. all the locals know him! told me he is part owners of spurs. not bad! him and his sons play volleyball at the fairmont- orchid sand courts every morning! nice bradda!
Posted 1 year ago # -
@96720 i agree with Kaleiponi.He was solid.Not flashy. What about James Nishimura who's teams always won in kona."Nish" could control the game without scoring.Donny Awa was also a solid player in his younger days.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Brian -- I met Alfred Rabara and his younger son Michael at Randy's and Bruce's all-star prep games at the Civic this past year. His older son, Ian, was a terrific player at Konawaena and I had a chance to see him at the Kona Basketball Camp back then when Coach Yagi traveled to Kona for 15 years to do the camp.
The first year, there were 29 campers. By the end, there were over 200 the last three or four years. The reason it ended was due to the fact that the Vulcan Camp needed more help and as many as 80 East Hawaii players were traveling over for the four-day camp. Coach Yagi wanted to go back and help in Hilo, and that's what we did along with so many volunteer coaches who helped at Kona.
It was a good camp. I know you worked it and so did a lot of the young coaches at that time, including the Awas and Kamakaus. Kona coach Frank Gipson and top assistant Lew "The 'Do" Fukui were extremely helping during those years.
Good luck to Alfred and son Michael as the youngsters plays in high school. Plus a "shout out" to Ian, who was a great kid and a rock-solid player.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@saynotodrugs- those players was a step or two behind Mike like all the others mentioned above. Some of them would not be on Kona's best honorable mention team...... If anybody would know it would be jason medeiros
Posted 1 year ago # -
@96720 thanks for your opinion but Nish was a solid player.He might not have been a big time scorer but he was solid in everything else.I'm not familiar with Jason Medeiros.When did he play?
Posted 1 year ago # -
St. Joe note: Donald Kawaauhau, a 6-foot-3 center and dominant rebounder, would have to be another Cardinal considered for the all-time team at center. Also if you go back to 1958, Eddie Bento would have to be considered the best or close to it.
Bento led St. Joseph to the territorial championship that season and went on to have a productive college career at Loyola Marymount.
To the St. Joseph old-timers, the 6-foot-5 Bento is a legend.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I coached Donald at St. Josephs and he was not taller than 6'1" up to his junior year. Picture this: Rob Shropshire and a certain lefty from St. Anthony (I know he reads this) along with Donald in his sophomore year. Shot is up and two bigs go after it while Donald stays down. The ball hits the front rim so the bigs are mis-timed. Donald goes up and gets the ball, comes down, pump fakes without any success. He jumps with the two bigs and slams the ball but it goes in and out. Picture 6'4" Robby shaking his head. He was a good player but I have to go with the "Helicopter" over the high flyer!
Donald's father played for Konawaena at the same time when the late "Pee Wee" Kai was playing. Pee Wee told me a story about Donald Senior lifting the wooden bench (that was the team bench back then) throwing all his teammates onto the floor and wanting to hit Pee Wee with the bench. The description was illustrated like a biiiggg man with a biiiggg bat!
Posted 1 year ago # -
@saynotodrugs, james nishiwho? and as far as the LEGEND jason "mad dog" mederios, i believe hes still playing!
Posted 1 year ago # -
anybody familiar with a dude name bula halmas?
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Brian~ St Anthony Maui? Russell Spencer
Posted 1 year ago # -
@killas - Bulla Hallmas! yeah where is he?
Posted 1 year ago # -
@hawN - hes around kona i seen em, not ballin though. u know him? seen em play?
Posted 1 year ago #
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