Friday, January 11, 2002
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The transformation of Janka Gabrielova from a run-and-gun, length-of-the-court passing point guard to one who understands the options available in a half-court offense mirrors the Wahine basketball team's success. Gabrielova’s defensive tenacity
Willoughby in hospital
wears out the oppositionBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comHer introduction to American basketball at Weatherford (Texas) College allowed Gabrielova to freelance for 40 minutes. The Wahine game is radically different.
"Our offense has so much structure. One play has so many options, maybe five or six," said Gabrielova. "I think I'm doing better this year. I don't think I really understood everything until we went to the Women's National Invitation Tournament last year."
Yet, it was Gabrielova's defensive abilities that first caught UH assistant coach Da Houl's attention when she watched her play for Weatherford.
"Janka has such quick feet and her hands are always in the face of the opponent," Houl said. "She has made progress in every way and that's a lot."
Gabrielova takes a lot of pride in her defense. She says this has always been her strongest asset. She routinely draws the assignment of guarding the opponent's top-scoring backcourt player. If Gabrielova doesn't do a good job of stopping that player, it makes no difference how many points she scores.
A case in point is the San Jose State game where she held Cricket Williams to five first-half points, only to have Williams score 14 in the second half.
"I'm satisfied when I hold the best scorer on the other team down. I was pissed off that Williams scored 19 points," said Gabrielova. "Playing good defense makes me look better than them. I wasn't very happy even though I got 21 points."
Houl elaborated on Gabrielova's defensive capabilities.
"She is tenacious. She approaches each situation with the idea you can't take it to the basket on me. After she has chased you around five times, you don't want to shoot and are looking to pass the sixth time," Houl said.
A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Gabrielova is learning when to shoot and, more often than not, it's when the shot clock is running down.
"I have to see if my teammates are open, run the options, then, if nobody is open, I take the ball inside with two seconds left (on the clock)," said Gabrielova who has that wonderful ability to create opportunities.
She isn't averse to popping a 3-pointer either. She has the best accuracy among the starters, making 16 of 49 (41 percent) from beyond the arc.
Gabrielova is very comfortable with the backcourt running mate, April Atuaia.
"I love to play with April. She is smart and we know what each other is doing. We work really well together and she doesn't make stupid mistakes under pressure," said Gabrielova.
Her basketball highlight is being named to the WNIT all-tournament team a year ago. She has a higher goal this year, to help the Wahine into the NCAA Tournament.
There also is a personal angle involved. Gabrielova's boyfriend, Rainbow forward Mindaugas Burneika, has two rings -- one from last year's NCAA team and one from junior college.
"He's always making fun of me about the rings. I want that ring," said Gabrielova. "I think we are better this year. Everybody has improved so much, but the conference is tougher. Besides, I score more points than Mindaugas, so I'm the leader of the family."
Gabrielova's dream is to play professional basketball or be a coach. She will graduate in another year and is considering staying in Hawaii to obtain a master's degree while serving as a manager for the Wahine team.
Notes: Gabrielova's parents, Alzbeta and Josef Gabriel, will visit Hawaii in April for three weeks. "Chelsea Wagner's parents and grandparents are helping to bring my parents here, otherwise it would be impossible for them to come," Gabrielova said. ... She explained the difference in the spelling of the family's last name by saying women add 'ova' to the family name in Slovakia.
Gameday
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV (Ch. 5)
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: kccn1420am.com
Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 for children (age 4-17) and UH students.
Parking: $3
Probable starters
Hawaii (9-2, 2-0)
Ht. Pts. Avg. Reb. G Janka Gabrielova (Sr.) 5-6 10.7 2.5 4.6 G April Atuaia (Soph.) 5-10 9.7 8.4 4.2 F Natasja Allen (Jr.) 6-2 14.6 7.9 1.5 F Karena Greeny (Sr.) 5-11 8.0 5.5 2.2 C Christen Roper (Jr.) 6-5 12.5 6.3 0.6 SOUTHERN METHODIST (6-8, 1-3)
Ht. Pts. Avg. Reb. G Andrea Cossey (So.) 5-11 12.5 3.1 2.5 G Kenni Patton (Jr.) 5-11 10.6 3.7 1.1 G Jackee Brown (So.) 5-6 8.6 2.3 2.9 F Tyesha Glover (So.) 6-1 8.9 8.0 1.6 C Kaci Alexander (Jr.) 6-4 11.1 7.1 1.0 Notes: The Wahine lead the series 9-1. In the last meeting, UH advanced to the WAC Tournament championship game with a 97-88 overtime victory over the Mustangs, March 9, 2001. ... SMU coach Rhonda Rompola earned her 200th career victory Saturday. ... UH freshman forward Jade Abele has been cleared to return to practice today. She has missed the last six games with a stress fracture in her right foot. She is questionable for this week's games. ... The Wahine are 45-11 in WAC games at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Kim Willoughby, a freshman forward on the Wahine basketball team, was admitted to a local hospital Wednesday night with severe abdominal pain. Willoughby in hospital
Star-Bulletin staff
She underwent tests yesterday, according to UH team physician Andrew Nichols. Results of those tests were not available last night.
Willoughby most likely will sit out tonight's game against Southern Methodist and is doubtful for Sunday's game against Louisiana Tech.
Since joining the basketball team following her All-America volleyball season, Willoughby has averaged 8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Her best outing was against San Jose State, when she scored 16 points and had 15 rebounds.
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