DeRego and Mins Proved Champions

It wasn’t long ago that Pii Mins and Auwae DeRego from the Kamehameha-Kapalama 2009 HHSAA Champions were treking along with Uncle Randy Gambil (Honokaa Asst Coach), as Coach Gambil was taking them to some of the top 3 on 3 tournaments on the Big Island. Auwae Derego, Pii Mins, Chris Gambil, Ho'okela Freitas and Mika Nikel (HPA & Honokaa) were the team Waimea Knights. Mins also came to Hilo for the Winter Classic hosted by the County of Hawaii and put together by Hi-Pal coordinator Dennis “Fresh” Onishi. Mins played for the team “Hoops Pa’ain’a" coached by Jeff Won. Jeff Won won every tournament on Oahu, and the Big Island and went on to win many tournaments in Las Vegas and Japan. The parents of that Hoops Pa’ina team worked hard at some of the UH Basketball game concessions making it affordable to travel to Japan. Won’s team players dismantled into high school with Mins going to Kamehameha-Kapalama and some players going to Mid Pacific. Mins’ teams had some classic matches with the Gameboyz Basketball programs coached by David Aspili, Wade Ishibashi, Steve Fukunaga, and Kaimi Chung, a program of Big Island players including Kawika Cazimero, Vicky Tagalicod, Makana Cazimero, Ryan Fukunaga, Isaac Chung, Haku Ishibashi, Matthew Libao.

Hoops Pa’aina and the Gameboyz made it to the title game of the 2001 Honoulu Hi-Pal Christmas Classic. Hoops Pa’ina would also have classic match ups and lose to the Bears team coached by Mark Saito. That Bears team included, TJ Yasuhara, Collin Cabatbat, Chandler Kaaa, Hogan Rosehill, and Ryan Higa. Mins and DeRego showed much promise already at that young age.

DeRego travelled the road to Kamehameha-Kapalama then to Honokaa High School and then back to Kamehameha-Kapalama. A tragic fishing accident claimed the life Auwae’s brother, a life changing event that made Auwae more determined and focused to better his life and play with purpose. You could see that in Auwae’s game this weekend. Although he was not the offensive scoring machine, you knew he was the physical leader that Kamehameha needed to overcome the bigger and taller Kahuku. De Rego’s inside presence along with team mate Micah Chritiansen was a force that altered the finishing Red Raiders shots.

Micah Christiansen is the son of Bob Christiansen and Charlene Kahuanui UHH Volleball standout. Charlene Kahuanui-Christiansen was a member of the 1981 NAIA and AIAW Champions. Both met while being student athletes here in Hilo. Kahuku had one of the best OIA teams in many moon and it was a classic match up with Kamehameha-Kapalama. Jray Galeai one of the most athletically gifted players to come out of Kahuku since Junior Ale, did some awesome things in the HHSAA tourney. Nehoa Akina also shown some shooting brilliance for the Red Raiders. However, it was Mins, DeRego, Christiansen and all of the Warriors that came through at the end to cap off a memorable basketball season.

It was fun to watch these young athletes grow up in front of the Big Island eyes and exciting to watch them capture a most deserving championship trophy!