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RAINBOW BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

Wallace’s favorite Martin

Forward Phil Martin was one of several University of Hawaii basketball players to distinguish himself in limited playing time last Tuesday against the California All-Stars.

In UH's 90-64 victory in its first exhibition, Martin grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds (five offensive) in just 16 minutes. He also scored nine points and impressed Hawaii coach Riley Wallace with his hustle on both ends of the court.

"He rebounds and he's quick enough to play good defense," Wallace said of the 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman from Ontario, Canada. "If he makes some shots he could score 10 to 16 points a game for us. In addition to the defense and rebounding, that'd be a great benefit to the team."

There are six candidates for playing time at small forward, including returning starter Nerijus Puida. So Martin knows he has to make the most of his chances in exhibitions and practice repetitions to be in the mix when the season starts Nov. 17 at home against Louisville.

"If I can be a force on defense and rebounding it will help me get minutes," he said. "Hopefully my offense will come along."

Taking on the Law

Another University of Hawaii basketball exhibition game, another former UH coach leading the opponents.

Last week, former Rainbow head man Frank Arnold directed the California All-Stars.

This Sunday, the Rainbows play a Division II Hilo Vulcans team coached by former UH assistant Jeff Law.

The NCAA now allows games between teams from different divisions to not count against the regular season limit.

"I hope we can give them a good tuneup for Louisville," Law said. "We don't want to be doormats."

Tip-off is 4 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Get well, Les

When Wallace spoke at the Honolulu Quarterback Club yesterday he talked nearly as much about UH baseball coach Les Murakami -- in critical condition after suffering a stroke last week -- as he did about his team.

Wallace has been at Queen's every day to visit Murakami.

"He's not in good shape at this point," Wallace said yesterday. "But if anyone can make it through this, he will. He's a tough man."

Fun and games

After a tough practice that included lengthy transition drills, the Rainbows concluded yesterday's session with a shooting competition which the players obviously enjoyed. The coaches had "drafted" four teams of four players each the night before.

Assistant coach Jackson Wheeler's team of Lance Takaki, Ricky Terrell, Carl English and Troy Ostler won the contest.

Tip-ins

Freshman guard Kimo Keiter-Charles is especially looking forward to Sunday's game. The Hilo hometown hero thought about walking on to the Vulcans before doing so at Manoa. ... Wallace has set no timetable for Terrell or David "Jeep" Hilton to take over the starting job at point guard from junior Mike McIntyre, who has it now because of his experience with UH's offense. The coach did tell the Quarterback Club that remains the long-range plan, and that Terrell is ahead of Hilton. ... Hilo's Jason Shumate and Terrell were teammates at Santa Monica College. ... Three Western Athletic Conference teams received votes in the Associated Press preseason poll released yesterday. SMU (15), Tulsa (8) and TCU (1). Fresno State, which the media covering the WAC chose to win the conference, received no votes.

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Dave Reardon, Star-Bulletin