After loss, Nishimoto
playing with joy again

Trisha Nishimoto is having a blast playing again for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball team.

The junior point guard is darting past defenders again, driving the lane when a small opening appears, dishing the ball to a teammate or defending with energy.

Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational Where: Stan Sheriff Center When: Today, Hawaii vs. Southeast Missouri State, 7 p.m. Tomorrow, Brigham Young vs. Southeast Missouri State, 7 p.m. Saturday, Hawaii vs. Brigham Young, 4 p.m. TV: UH vs. SE Missouri St. live, KFVE, Channel 5 Radio: Both UH games live, KKEA, 1420-AM Tickets: All seats general admission. $8 adults, $7 seniors. UH students with valid ID, children age 4-18 free. Parking: $3 Notes: Senior forward Jade Abele needs 178 points to become the 14th Rainbow Wahine to score 1,000 career points. She has played in 71 consecutive games. ... The Wahine have made at least one 3-pointer in 78 straight games.

She is part of coach Jim Bolla's rotation at the point.

It is a totally different story from a year ago, when tragedy unexpectedly entered her life.

It took until last summer for Nishimoto to start thinking that it was time to move ahead.

That thought was positive, yet she says her personal loss, the death of her best friend in an auto accident a year ago November, that affected everything, is still there.

Nishimoto received tremendous support and understanding from her parents, Helen and John; her fiancˇ, Adam Wong; teammates and other friends and family. However, she realized she had to do her part.

"I started thinking that I had two more years (with the Wahine) and I guess I wanted to make it fun. I figured it was time to move forward. You can only dwell on something for so long," said Nishimoto.

She went to work on conditioning and weight training with Hawaii strength coach Tommy Heffernan. And, she became engaged.

None of the Wahine knew what to expect from the new coaching staff, but that didn't concern Nishimoto.

"I just wanted to be in shape. That was my main goal. No matter what I was going to do, I was just going to come out and try to have fun," said Nishimoto, an Iolani graduate.

This was before any of the players had heard Bolla's often-repeated statement, "You work hard in practice and have fun in games."

By the time the team conditioning sessions ended prior to the start of fall practice, Nishimoto was in the shape she wanted to be in and ready to challenge for a starting job.

That has not happened yet. She has played in 45 games in her career, all coming off the bench. But that has not been a problem -- in part, due to some kind advice.

"Everyone's goal is to start," said Nishimoto. "My dad and Adam tell me that even if you only go in for a few minutes, you go in and play hard, try to create good things, play good defense, that's all that should matter."

Bolla said, "Trisha is really quick and pretty smart in figuring out what we want her to do. We have to work on her understanding that, with the style we play, there will be turnovers and that I'm not going to take her out for making a positive mistake."

Nishimoto does not put a lot of pressure on herself but does set a lot of little goals.

"Sure, I'm upset when I make a mistake. I know my freshman year if I made one mistake, I didn't want to go in any more, but now I'm more accepting about what I can do about it.

"Coach (Pat) Charity always tells me to be fast, but don't rush. That sounds contradicting, but I understand what they want," said Nishimoto.

"We want her to use her quickness, but don't be out of control," said Charity.

Playing for the Wahine was something Nishimoto wanted to do since she was a youngster. When UH showed interest, she disregarded every other school and signed early.

Nishimoto, a speech communications major and two-time All-Western Athletic Conference academic honoree, is keeping her options open about a career choice.