[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
Goo glad to be
playing China’s best
The Rainbow Wahine basketball team received a surprise telephone call two weeks ago, but one Hawaii coach Vince Goo was happy to get.
China's national women's team planned to stop in Honolulu on its way home from a mainland tour and wanted to play a game here.
It is rare the Wahine have an opportunity to play an exhibition game prior to the start of the regular season. The UH-China game is Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"There are not too many times a team will stop in Hawaii and they usually ask for a lot of money to play a game," said Goo. "The Chinese officials didn't ask for any money. They just wanted a game and we gladly accepted."
Whether the Wahine, who have seven freshmen in camp, can hold their own against a national team that has two games scheduled against WNBA all-star teams on the mainland is not a concern for Goo.
"We definitely are not going to make judgments about our team based on the results of that game. The Chinese will be more talented and more experienced," said Goo.
"This is like a dress rehearsal for us. It will give us a chance to get into our game routine, know how to check in, have our warm-up shirts off before entering the game, things like that. It will give us a chance to play in front of some fans and maybe get some of the jitters out of the way. That's the purpose of an exhibition game.
"With the talent they have, I think it will be a good test for us. If we can compete with them, then things will be looking bright. If we don't, we have a week to get adjusted before our first game."
Hawaii opens its season Nov. 22 against the Lipscomb Lady Bisons in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic, the first of four tournaments the Wahine host before starting Western Athletic Conference play in January.
So far so good: The Wahine have had just one bad day of practice in two weeks of workouts according to Goo.
"We gave them an unscheduled day off Tuesday and when they came back they weren't focused, but we took care of that Thursday," said Goo.
The seven freshmen -- Janevia Taylor, Dalia Solia, Bryony Crouch, Pam Tambini, Amber Lee, Brittany Grice and Alofa Toiaivao -- have impressed the coaches with how well they picked up the offensive plays and the defensive schemes.
"The returnees are being pushed to the limits at every practice by the younger ones," said Goo. "We're ready for a man or zone or pressure defense and we can play man or matchup defense," said Goo. "We're not 100 percent efficient at any of this yet, but we're making progress."
Injury update: "We've been pounding it pretty hard and there will be some nicks and aches and pains," said Goo. "We have to play through it and, for the most part, they have done that."
Junior guard Milia Macfarlane suffered a bruised right thigh in practice Wednesday, participated in some drills Thursday and should be OK by Monday.
Freshman guard Tambini missed one day of practice due to a sprained ankle, but is back taking part in all the drills and scrimmages.
Tickets: Individual game tickets can be purchased at the Stan Sheriff Center ticket office beginning Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Tickets cost $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens. Add $1 for Rainbow Wahine Classic games.
Fans may also purchase tickets calling the 'BOWS Ticket Hotline at 944-2697. Select option No. 2 and wait for the next available Ticket Plus operator. Tickets also may be purchased by calling 526-4400.
Tickets for the exhibition game with China cost $5 for adults and $4 for senior citizens. UH students and children age 4-18 will be admitted free.
