Summer League set for playoffs
The regular season of the College Basketball Summer League came to a close on Thursday night at the Manoa Valley Recreation Gym, with players from the Hawaii basketball team continuing to make a significant impact.
Joston Thomas scored 35 points to lead the National Fire Protection team to an 87-85 victory over Central Medical Clinic.
“Every time I step on the court, I try to take it 110 percent,” said Thomas, who will be a junior forward for the Warriors. “I come out here every day and try to get better.”
Fellow Hawaii Warriors Pi’i Minns and Jace Tavita turned in impressive performances in the loss. Minns scored 27 points, and Tavita finished with 21, including six 3-pointers. And that wasn’t the most impressive part. Both players had to play the full 40 minutes because only five players showed up for Central Medical Clinic.
“I’m tired … but it was good, it was fun,” Minns said.
What’s more, Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold scheduled a 6 a.m. workout for the Warriors on Friday morning – about nine hours after the summer league games ended.
“I’m just gonna go home and sleep, and hopefully wake up in time,” Minns said. “I wasn’t expecting to play the whole game like this.”
Despite the absence of reserves, Central Medical Clinic nearly pulled off the win. A 3-point attempt by Minns to try and win the game in the closing seconds was blocked by another fellow Warrior, Tyler McDaniels.
In an earlier game, Grantco Pacific – with Bobby Miles running at point guard – upset the first place team Electricians Hawaii, 115-111.
There was a scary moment in the first half, when Trevor Wiseman went down with an ankle injury. It did not appear to be serious, although he sat out the rest of the game.
The playoffs for the summer league are set for Saturday (July 30), Monday (Aug. 1) and Thursday (Aug. 4) at Manoa Valley. Note that the schedule has been changed to accommodate the Hawaii team’s departure for Asia on Aug. 5.
Here are the regular-season standings:
Electricians Hawaii 8-2
Army 7-3
National Fire Protection 5-5
Grantco Pacific 5-5
Wealth Strategy 3-7
Central Medical Clinic 2-8
joston looks quicker and a bit lighter.
but, more importantly it appears that his shooting form has come a long way and he shoots with more confidence now.
granted they don’t play too much d in this league, but, it seems like mr. thomas is a lot more serious these days.
We need Trevor to be healthy for the trip ,probably still tender by Aug 5th, ice it and get treatment Trevor, forget summer league,you did well.
Great to see the UH players scoring so well in the Summer League games. I think Trevor should rest his ankle and be ready for the overseas trip. We need him as the sparkplug.
Does anyone know what time the playoff games start tomorrow? It it 6:00 and 7:30 as usual?
FuriousD: That’s right. National Fire Protection vs. Army at 6; Grantco Pacific vs. Electricians Hawaii to follow around 7:30.
@clyde Thanks! Definitely going to try and make it out.