Tabuse gets another shot

TOKYO » Former Brigham Young-Hawaii guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving the Japan national men's basketball team for another shot at the NBA.

Tabuse had been training with Japan's national team but decided to leave the squad and head to the United States after receiving an invitation to attend the Dallas Mavericks' summer camp next month.

“;I got the news all of a sudden and am happy I was able to get another opportunity,”; Tabuse said at a press conference yesterday.

Tabuse, 28, played briefly for the Phoenix Suns in the 2004-05 season and is the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA.

The 5-foot-9 point guard joined the Suns' training camp in 2004 and made the opening-night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks but was waived by the Suns on Dec. 16, 2004.

Kaufman wins regional title

Hawaii's Amber Kaufman won the high jump competition at the NCAA West Regional track and field championship yesterday in Eugene, Ore.

UH tied for 11th place with 19 points, with Kaufman leading the way with her mark of 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches. It tied the West Regional record set by Sharon Day of Cal Poly last year, and earned Kaufman an automatic spot in the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Kaufman is the first Rainbow Wahine in school history to win an event at the West Regional.

Annett Wichmann was third in the javelin with a throw of 163-1. She is now qualified for the javelin and heptathlon at the NCAA meet.

Emily Sheppard tied for fifth in the high jump (5-8 1/2), but did not qualify for an automatic NCAA berth. She could get in as an at-large entry.

QB Club honors Keiter

The Honolulu Quarterback Club will remember broadcaster Les Keiter at its weekly meeting tomorrow.

The legendary broadcaster and longtime master of ceremonies for the club died on April 14 at the age of 89.

KHON2 reporter Jai Cunningham will join Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona and Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann in remembering “;The General.”;

Lunch is served at the Pagoda Hotel's International Ballroom at 11:30 a.m., with the program beginning at noon.