The 808 Hui took home the Championship by nipping the Chosen few when the dust settled on Sunday evening. Of course a game between these two perennial contenders had to be decided in overtime. Both teams faced great hurdles to get to the finals as both teams faced top notch competition. Chosen Few had overcome Tigers Blue and Ballers over the course of the weekend and 808 Hui had matches against the likes of Green Light and Paradise Players. The championship was a rematch between the two teams from the semifinals of the Maui regionals earlier in the year which the Chosen Few won by 4, but this time 808 Hui picked by two outstanding guards that proved to be the difference. Two former state players of the year Derek Low and Kyle Pape. With team captain Jason Mandaquit added to that bunch it gives them 3 former state players of the year in their backcourt. What a combination! The Chosen Few were without second leading scorer Scott Kato who was out of state and Center Leandro Maruoka did the best he could while battling an ankle injury. 808 Hui captain Mandaquit missed the finals due to the time of his flight back to Hilo.
The game itself was an instant classic. 808 Hui came out man to man with Low and Chosen Few’s legendary point guard John Lane going blow for blow. The 808 Hui squad was a lot wider and won the battle of the boards while the Chosen Few found themselves down by 12 with 6 minutes left and rallied for a great comeback. Lane scored 10 straight points in the last 2:14 to send the game to overtime. Kawika Smith of the Chosen Few had his three pointer fall short as the buzzer sounded. The Hui win by a final of 62-59. Low had 24 points and Pape added in 19. These two guards played very well together and seemed to thrive of each other. Kealii Bandmann, Cavan Scanlan, and the Lee Brothers( Tyson and Troy) were all a force in the finals and played so well that neither of their star guards could be doubled. The Chosen Few were led by John Lane’s 31 and Jay Busseys 14. Both Kideok Kwon and Kapena Wong played well for last years defending champs and hit big shots and big moments. Wong is still a very young player who has yet to fulfill his potential.
MVP Derek Low 808 Hui
All-Star Teams
First Team
G John Lane Chosen Few
G Kyle Pape 808 Hui
F Khi Min Jung Tigers Blue
F Jay Bussey Chosen Few
C Cavan Scanlan 808 Hui
Second Team
G Everett Frye Green Light
G Ross Silva Please UCY
F Nate Donnell Ballers
F James Francisco Paradise Players
C Micah Luavasa 96792
