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Wednesday, February 14, 2001

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Aiea soccer player Benji Villaflor, left, went a different route than
his celebrated father, former world lightweight boxing champion
Ben Villaflor, right. The two pose for a picture at last night's
Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet.

Father knows best

Legendary boxer helps talented son
lead Aiea into state tournament

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By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Ben Villaflor was a champion because of his quick hands. Benji Villaflor can't use his.

You might expect the son of a world champion boxer to follow him into the ring. But Benji Villaflor chose soccer -- with his father's complete encouragement.

"He's never given me less than 100 percent support," Benji Villaflor said of his father, who won the world lightweight championship in 1976.

Benji, a senior midfielder, leads Aiea in the AT&T Wireless Boys State Soccer Championships, which begin today at Aloha Stadium.

Aiea and Kamehameha meet at 5:30 p.m., in one of four games today involving unseeded teams.

Benji Villaflor is one of the state's top players, and has garnered interest from numerous colleges.

He has played in the Olympic Developmental Program the past two summers and competed nationally with his club team, the Mililani Strikers.

This week he hopes to help Na Alii improve on last season's fifth-place finish -- with his No. 1 fan watching closely.

"I never miss any games," Ben Villaflor said. "I'm probably the biggest fan."

Even when it's raining, he sits through practice in his raincoat and umbrella.

"He came with me on my regional trip (to San Jose with the Strikers)," Benji Villaflor said. "He's at every game and practice and gives me the extra advice I need in soccer."

Ben also helped Benji get into shape during his early high school years.

"He used to train me," Benji Villaflor said. "He'd take me to the park and make me run sprints and he'd follow me around in the car while I ran."

Said Ben: "That's what my trainer used to do when I boxed."

Ben passes on much more than just training and soccer tips to his youngest of three children.

"The best advice he gave me was to choose the college that was best for my major, not so much the soccer team," said Benji Villaflor, who is interested in pursuing computer science or aviation.

"My main concern (for him) is not only sports but school, it has to be balanced," said Ben Villaflor. "It doesn't make any sense to only be good in sports and not in school. No one can take the education away from you."

Benji has narrowed his college choices to San Diego State, Oregon State, Cal State Sacramento and West Point.

Here is a capsule look at the state tournament field:

PEARL CITY (12-0-0)

Oahu Interscholastic League champion, No. 1 seed, one championship (1999), coach Scott Keopuhiwa:

Bobby Shinn led the OIA in scoring with 16 goals. His brother, Ricky, added eight. Bobby suffered a concussion in the OIA title game, but practiced this week and should be ready to play tomorrow.

Senior midfielder Reid Kobashigawa also makes things happen on offense. Junior Daniel Park scored seven goals.

Senior Kevin Palafox in the center and junior Alan Domingo on the outside lead the defense. Senior Matt Egami is in goal.

The Chargers have eight seniors, five who start. They beat Baldwin, 1-0, in the championship game of the Maui Invitational -- a game Keopuhiwa said could have gone either way.

IOLANI (8-1-3)

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, No. 2 seed, seven state championships (most recently in 2000), coach Myles Arakawa:

The defending champions will likely be without top scorer Duke Hashimoto, who injured his right knee against Punahou last week.

The team enters the tournament beat up from physical play in the ILH, plus several players have been sick this week.

"A lot of our young guys will have to grow up quickly," Arakawa said.

The veteran defense allowed only two goals in the regular season. Mike Terry defends the middle and senior Brent Tatsuno is in goal. Senior midfielder Travis Watanabe is a four-year starter.

BALDWIN (9-0-1)

Maui Interscholastic League champion, No. 3 seed, no championships, coach Fred Guzman:

The Bears played six tournament teams in the preseason, beating Mililani, Kealakehe and Hawaii Prep and falling to Pearl City, Iolani and Kamehameha.

Senior forward Clayton Sado scored 15 goals in the MIL and has 26 goals and 10 assists overall.

Junior forward Kawika Kahui (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) was one of the island's best football players. Kahui scored 13 MIL goals.

Keola Nobriga and John Oura key the Bears' strong transition play. Junior sweeper Artie Ferreira leads the three-back defense.

HILO (12-2-0)

Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, No. 4 seed, no championships, coach Don Memmer:

The Vikings' balanced attack features five or six scoring threats.

Senior halfback/forward Jeremy Van Kralingen "plays with incredible energy" and sophomore Mo'i Kanealii "plays like a senior," according to Memmer. Left-footed Tim Meek is dangerous as well.

Brian Shinjo, a four-year starter at sweeper, leads the defense.

Senior all-state keeper Eddie Ruhland, the Star-Bulletin's all-state football kicker, has perhaps the strongest leg in the state.

AIEA (10-3-0)

OIA third place, no championships, coach Jon Shirafuji:

The offense goes through seniors Villaflor and Jarvis Uyehara, but Shirafuji stresses defense.

Skip Saito, Brandon Tamayo, Matt Itagaki and Derek Atta anchor the defense. Junior Matt Yoshimura is in goal.

CAMPBELL (8-4-1)

OIA fourth place, no championships, coach Frank Marotti:

The Sabers make their first appearance at states, starting just one senior.

Campbell's best defender is sophomore sweeper Shaunsey Saito. Junior keeper Kawika Ishikawa (6-0, 250 pounds) just started playing soccer this year.

Junior striker Michael Ryman finished second in the West with 15 goals. Taisei Lee and Donovan Gaboya also contribute on offense.

HAWAII PREP (13-3-0)

BIIF runner-up, no championships, coach Keawe Liu:

Seniors Kawehi Clarke and Ryan Gleed are co-captains for Ka Makani, who start seven seniors.

Junior Wildes Brawner and keeper Mike Hickman are also players to watch.

Hawaii Prep struggled with injuries, but is relatively healthy now.

Preseason tournament opponents included Pearl City and Baldwin, and HPA also played Hilo during the regular season.

KALANI (8-2-3)

OIA fifth place, no championships, coach Greg Van Cantfort:

Strikers Brandon Green and Grant Arakaki are two main scoring threats for the Falcons as they make their first state appearance.

Junior midfielder Gavin Fujitani sets up the attack.

Junior keeper Richard Dabs allows less than a goal a game and Brad Awaya leads the defense.

The Falcons had a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3).

KAMEHAMEHA (9-2-2)

ILH runner-up, no championships, coach Andrew Ah New:

The Warriors played seven of the tournament teams, and were 11-2 in the preseason (both losses coming to Pearl City).

Senior midfielder Nathan Silva scored seven goals in the ILH. Brandon Tario, Kekoa Smith and injury-plagued Brandt Shaner provide offense.

Senior sweeper Kaui Arakaki and junior fullback Kahai MacDonald lead the defense. Zachary McAngun and Matt Ortiz rotate in goal.

KAPAA (7-1-2)

Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion, no championships, coach Wade Bosworth:

Defense is the Warriors' strength, and junior goalkeeper Graham Kovarik is one of the leaders. Bosworth said Kovarik is very aggressive.

Junior Judd McRoberts plays in the center, and gets help from Keoni Nakano and Kyle Strickland.

KEALAKEHE (12-3-0)

BIIF third place, no championships, coach Ears Leuenberger:

In the school's fourth-year of existence, the Waveriders make their second straight tournament appearance.

Six players from the school's first senior class start, along with three juniors.

Jamie Matsukawa, Mark Kurashige, Keoki Downs and Aaron Libadisos are defensive players to watch.

Halfbacks Lee Nakahara and Kaio Lee and forwards Eric Franke and Colin Arford also start.

Kealakehe lost to Kamehameha in OT penalty kicks in the preseason and were edged by Baldwin, 4-3.

MILILANI (9-2-1)

OIA runner-up, no championships, coach Jeff Yamamoto:

The Trojans try to get back to the final, where they lost to Iolani, 2-1, last year.

Jarrett Razon, Kilipaki Kanae and Blaine Murakami were among the top seven in scoring the West.

Senior Kahi Hernandez, in the middle, Chris Castell and Bronson Hee spark the defense.

Thomas Brown is a first-year starter in goal.

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