StarBulletin.com

Hawaii Beat


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POSTED: Friday, July 24, 2009

Viloria Hawaii fight in works?

Could Brian Viloria's next fight be in Hawaii?

On his Twitter page yesterday, the Waipahu native wrote, “;OMG I'm so stoked! My fight ... will be in HAWAII!! Argh! Homecoming baby!”;

But manager Gary Gittelsohn was quick to say nothing is official yet.

“;It's looking positive, but I can't say it's done,”; he told the Star-Bulletin. “;We haven't even approached the athletic commission that is necessary in order to make it happen. Nothing is firm.”;

Viloria's original fight against Luis Alberto Lazarte set for Aug. 29 in the Philippines was recently canceled, leaving his management team looking for a new opponent.

Local professional fighter Michael Balasi said he's been contacted about his interest in fighting on the undercard of a Viloria bout on Aug. 29 at the Blaisdell Arena.

 

Final HIBT day tightly contested

Twenty-four points separated the top two teams heading into today's final day of competition at the 50th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament off Kailua-Kona.

The Malibu (Calif.) Marlin Club had 1,367 points, boosted by the 567-pound Pacific blue marlin boated Wednesday. The Kona Game Fishing Club of Japan upped its point total to 1,343 with two Pacific blue marlins, on a tag-and-release estimated at 275 pounds, and a 332-pounder that was boated.

 

Kim advances to quarterfinals

Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim rode an impressive comeback into today's quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Bedminster, N.J.

Kim, now living in Arizona, rallied from three holes down to defeat Florida's Jessica Korda on the 19th hole in yesterday's round of 16 match at the Trump National Golf Club.

Kim faces California's Jennifer Johnson in a morning quarterfinal. The winner advances to this afternoon's semifinal.

Kim trailed Korda by three holes after No. 10 but won three of the next five holes to square the match. It remained even until Kim won on the first extra hole with a par.

Earlier yesterday, Kim defeated Kristen Park of California 5 and 4. Kim never trailed, winning the first four holes and going 6-up after 12 holes.

 

'Iolani girls heading to China

The 'Iolani girls basketball team begins a nine-day trip to Beijing on Sunday and will play three games in a tourney run by Nike China.

One of those games will be against the No. 1 team in China, Dongzhimen.

“;They're probably like girl Yao Mings,”; sophomore guard Kylie Maeda said, referring to the Houston Rockets center from China.

This is the second trip to Asia this summer for junior guard Kaitlyn Shikada, who was on the Raiders' softball team that played in Japan.

'Iolani last traveled to China in 1979. The boys' hoops team was coached that year by the same man in charge of this year's girls trip — Glenn Young.

The Raiders shouldn't be too rusty. They spent the summer playing in Punahou's offseason league, learning new coach Eddie Maruyama's system.

In Beijing, 'Iolani will contend with 24-second shot clocks and international rules.

 

Thurlby on U.S. beach team

Cayley Thurlby, a reserve setter for Hawaii from 2002 to 2006, has been named to the U.S. Under-26 Beach National Team.

Thurlby and former Washington player Christal Morrison have been named the No. 1 team for the U.S. while Brooke Sweat and Tealle Hunkus are at No. 2.

Thurlby and partner Diane Copenhagen tied for 33rd at last week's AVP Manhattan Beach Open.

The U26 teams will compete either at the FIVB event in the Netherlands, Aug. 10 to 15, or in Findland, Aug. 17 to 22.

 

U.S ousted in World League

Former Hawaii opposite Clay Stanley had six kills in two sets as the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team was eliminated by Russia in FIVB World League competition.

Former Warrior libero Alfred Reft did not play in the 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 loss at Beogradska Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. The U.S., the defending World League champion, went 0-2 in the final round this week and 5-9 overall in the tournament.

Wong non-factor in U.S. victory

Hawaii's Kolten Wong went 0-for-4 yesterday but the U.S. didn't need his bat in a 12-2 victory over British Columbia at the World Baseball Chllenge in Prince George, B.C.

Wong, a freshman centerfielder for the Rainbows last season, is playing second base for Team USA. Yesterday's win clinched the top seed for the U.S. in the playoff portion of the tournament.

 

Paddlers rally behind Stout

Ronnie Stout's two-run single in the fourth broke a 3-3 tie and the Oahu Paddlers went on to defeat the Waikiki Surfers 7-3 in a Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League game at Central Oahu Regional Park yesterday.

The Surfers scored all of their runs in the top of the second, using six singles to take a 3-0 lead. The Paddlers chipped away at the deficit, picking up a run in the bottom of the second and tying it in the third on Paul Politi's two-run single.

 

Anderson signs with HPU soccer

Freshman forward Dyanne Anderson has signed to play soccer for Hawaii Pacific.

Anderson, a Dana Hills (Calif.) High graduate, played for the Southern California Blues, an under-18 team that won the California Premier League title.