By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The requests for tickets kept coming so Hawaii Hammerheads president and coach Kevin Williams put an order link online, and it’s been productive.
The Hammerheads open their preseason Saturday, Aug. 5 against Maui United and play the Kauai Stars on Sunday, Aug. 6 at UH-Hilo Gym, which has a seating capacity of about 850.
The link went up last Monday and already 365 tickets have been sold, said Williams, who noted that a lot of requests were made by West Hawaii fans.
“We have received great interest from the community,” he said. “The Kona people wanted to make sure they could get tickets to the game, and it wouldn’t be sold out when they get to the gym. These games will sell out so get your tickets online or come early to the gym to make sure you save your place in history.
“The Hammerheads and Hammerettes dance team directed by Kea Kapahua (a UHH dance instructor) is working hard to put on a great show for the community. We hope everyone is excited as we are to have professional basketball in Hilo.”
The Hammerheads, of the inaugural Oceania Basketball Association, are the first professional basketball organization on the Big Island. (The OBA’s website will launch Aug. 1 with rosters and schedules released on Sept. 1.)
The OBA season-opener is Oct. 14-15 against Solomon Islands at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, which is renovating its floors.
The West Hawaii fans get something of a double treat. The Konawaena boys and girls will clash with the Hilo boys and girls in “The Battle on the Big Island.”
For the girls, the Wildcats have won the last nine BIIF titles and three HHSAA Division I crowns. The Vikings have finished runner-up the last four seasons in the league.
Under coach Bobbie Awa, Konawaena has become the most dominant program in the BIIF, reeling off a 104-0 record-setting mark over nine years.
The ’Cats graduated two key starters: Celena Jane Molina and Mahie Kaawa, a pair of disciplined defenders and mid-range jump shooters, but return the reigning player of the year in Cherilyn Molina, her top-shelf partner Mikayla Tablit, and versatile big Caiyle Kaupu.
No team in the BIIF has seriously challenged Konawaena for nearly a decade. The East vs. West Girls Showcase at 2 p.m. Aug. 5 will be an early sneak peak in that regard.
For the boys, Konawaena will likely head into the BIIF season as the title favorite, again, even more so because Mattos is now a Hammerhead, the first in the state to go straight to the pros for hoops.
Local coach Randy Apele has set up the Jr. Hammerhead Classic, which has a field of youth teams.
His son Lanaki Apele in on the Hammerheads and will be one of the Local Four, along with Aukai Wong, Calvin Mattos, Isaiah Ekau, in the starting lineup. Joel Feigler, from Hawaii Pacific, is the other starter.
Players receive a cut from the sale of their uniform jerseys. The more popular the player, the more cash in his pocket.
Also, in the Battle of the Big Island, the Hammerheads will have another treat for local fans.
“We’ll have a collector’s edition uniform for sale,” Williams said.
The Hammerheads will have a meet-and-greet on Friday, Aug. 4 at the main KTA store.
The team will hold practices at the Panaewa Play Courts starting Wednesday, Aug. 2 in the evening. Practices will be open to the public.
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Pro basketball
What: Battle on the Big Island
Who: Hawaii Hammerheads
Preseason debut: Aug. 5-6 at UH-Hilo Gym
Info: hihawaiihammerheads.com