It’s a long road to his goal of playing professionally, but former University of Hawaii at Hilo wing player Randan Berinobis got his first step in that direction last Saturday when he played for the Hawaii Swish in a 99-91 victory over the St. Louis Spirits on Oahu in an American Basketball League game.
The Swish is the latest attempt to provide Hawaii players with a platform that could draw the interest of professional leagues around the world. Started by former Hawaii-Manoa guard Geremy Robisnon, coached by former UH guard Artie Wilson, the Swish are attempting to play a dozen or more games in a season they are putting together on the run.
“To me, the ABA is a semi-pro league,” Wilson said in a telephone interview Monday, “our resources are limited, but we are hopeful of getting some exposure for these guys, so we’re working on it all the time.”
Wilson had previously coached Aukai Wong, the long distance shooter from the Big Island, and Wong, a mentor of sorts to Berinobis, introduced him to Wilson.
“I got to coach Randan a couple years in the summer,” Wilson said, “and with this first game coming up for us, I definitely wanted (Berinobis) to be a part of this. There’s a lot of guys who are 21 or 22 and can play the game and they are looking for more than the park league level, so this is a good spot for them.”
Berinobis was flown over to Oahu last Friday, met the team, went through some preparation and then played Saturday night, scoring 12 points and adding 8 rebounds.
“I’m just happy for an opportunity,” Berinobis said. “It’s kind of tough being here and trying to get connected to professional leagues, but this is a chance to play and see what happens.”
The ABA has been around for a while but recently had its profile diminished by a group called the Hammerheads that had presented themselves as a Hilo franchise in the league.
“That whole thing was a farce,” Wilson said of the Hammerheads, “it hurt the league, but we are at a level where it’s kind of all up in the air. Some of the (ABA) teams are legit, some are a tax write-off for some owner, but the legit ones are the ones we’re trying to work with.”
Wilson said another game is scheduled on Oahu for Nov. 17 against a team from Dallas, then on Dec. 1 against a team from Seattle. He said they are working to fund a trip to the mainland in January, “but it’s a work in progress.”
Berinobis is the only player on the team not from Oahu.
“I know who he is, I know what he does,” Wilson said. “I knew in a practice or two he would fit right in, and he did. If he was on this island he would have been one of the first guys I brought in.”
Wilson said he likes the idea of playing a game in Hilo, “if we can work out all the details. It would be great to come over for a game and see what kind of support we might get.”
