By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The Hawaii Hammerheads are offering the best deal in town: free admission for all students, including those in college with a picture ID.
The American Basketball Association expansion team will play 12 of its 16 home games at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, starting Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017.
Here’s another bargain from Hammerheads president Kevin Williams: general admission is $5 at Hilo Civic, and seating is first come, first serve.
There will be a small section of reserved seating for community leaders and incoming Mayor Harry Kim, who coached BIIF football back in the day at Waiakea.
If fans arrive early, they can sit next to coach Harry and ask about his record or if he thinks the Rainbow Warriors will finish with a winning season under rookie coach Nick Rolovich.
Williams also announced that the season-ticket package is $50, which means two games are free, a good Christmas present for hoop diehards.
With those kinds of deals (free and low cost), it’s more probable than not that the Hilo Civic home opener will be a full house.
“That’s what we want to have, the biggest fan base in the league,” Williams said. “We also want a lot of Hammerhead merchandise on the island.”
From a historical perspective, it makes sense for the Hammerheads to make Hilo home because basketball has a legendary tradition at the Civic.
That’s from the old, glory days under UH-Hilo coach Jimmy Yagi to the BIIF championships, which routinely draw over 2,000 fans.
A nice attraction is the core of the team, featuring Hilo’s own Aukai Wong, a deep-shooting guard; Australia’s Austin Treweek, a ball-handling maestro; and former Hawaii Pacific big man Joel Feigler, whose versatility is entertaining and valuable.
Last season in his senior year, Feigler and the Sharks played their home games at Moanalua High’s gym and Neal Blaisdell Center.
On Oahu, where there’s something to do every single day of the week, HPU struggled mightily to attract fans, who usually stay home to watch Rainbow Warrior basketball on OcSports, channel 16.
The first game at Moanalua High against Grace Bible, an 85-73 Shark win, drew 67 fans. The first game at Blaisdell against Holy Names, an 85-71 HPU victory, attracted 132 fans.
Despite a much larger population on Oahu, earlier ABA teams Mega Force (2005) and Hurricanes (2007) failed in Honolulu.
So why not try something different instead of batting 0 for 3 on Oahu? That was Williams’ thinking.
“We believe with the great support we have received from the business community, media, and school system that Hilo and Kona would be the perfect places to call home for the Hammerheads,” Williams said. “We understand the rich basketball history of the Big Island, and we wanted to be a part of that history. Everyone we talk to is very supportive of the team and really made us feel at home. Signing Aukai Wong was a major step for us to building a championship organization on and off the court.
“We have low ticket prices because this is a team for the community to come out and support. All kids free and adults at $5 give everyone the opportunity to feel a part of the action.”
Until then, the countdown begins until it’s Hammertime at Hilo Civic on Jan. 8.
For more information about the Hammerheads, email hawaiihammerheads@gmail.com or visit www.HawaiiHammerheads.com.
Hilo Civic schedule
• Sunday, Jan. 8
• Saturday, Jan. 14
• Sunday, Jan. 15
• Sunday, Jan. 22
• Saturday, Jan. 28
• Sunday, Jan. 29
• Sunday, Feb. 12
• Saturday, Feb. 18
• Sunday, Feb. 19
• Saturday, Feb. 25
• Sunday, Feb. 26
• Saturday, March 4