Warrior Insider

Early bragging rights amongst University of Hawai’i basketball players in the Hawai’i Development League goes to Mate Colina.

The 6-foot-11 freshman center from Australia tallied 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead his Lei Lei’s team to a 97-77 victory over Ultimate Roofing in a battle for first place in the summer league on Saturday night at Saint Francis School gymnasium. Lei Lei’s is now 3-0; Ultimate Roofing dropped to 2-1.

Each team in the league will play five regular-season games before the single-elimination playoffs begin.

“It’s great playing with such a great group of guys,” Colina said of his Lei Lei’s team. “We know who to find when they’re open. Great job passing the ball around, playing as one.”

Colina shot 10 for 21 from the field and 9 for 12 on free throws. It came against an opposing team that featured two of his UH teammates – Zigmars Raimo and Brandon Thomas.

“It’s awesome – always better to get a win against your own. We’re always at each other at training and stuff. This is a different environment, we get to get better against each other. It’s definitely going to help us when we get into season.”

Colina and Raimo were often matched against each other in the low post during Saturday’s game.

Colina said he needed the first two games of the HD League to adjust to game speed. He joined the UH basketball team in January, but used his redshirt year. In essence, his last game prior to the HD League was back in November in his home country of Australia.

“A couple of days was my first game in like eight months,” he said. “To get back in game shape and now to finally start to heading into a bit of a groove is definitely helping to play these games.”

Raimo scored 19 points for Ultimate Roofing and Thomas scored nine.

The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader provided a fantastic finish. Derrick Low, the Co-Director of the HD League, scored the game-winning layup as time expired to lead Society Contacting to a 94-92 win over Electricians Hawaii.

UH sophomore point guard Drew Buggs scored 21 points, and also collected the loose rebound and subsequent pass that led to Low’s breakaway layup for the win.

The HD League will continue with regular season games on July 9, 10 and 12 at Saint Francis School. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on July 14.

CLICK HERE for more information on the HD League
Saturday’s Results

Lei Lei’s 97, Ultimate Roofing 77. Leading scorers: LL– Mate Colina 30, Pii Minns 21, Jimmy Nunuha 19. UR — Zigmars Raimo 19, Allex Austin 14, James Davis 14.

Society Contracting 94, Electricians Hawaii 92. SC – Drew Buggs 21, Zion Shepherd 21, Chris Kobayashi 15, Huthifah Abdal Jawad 12. EH — Eliet Donnely 25, Zoar Nedd 23, Gabriel Vega 16, Mamadou Diarra 11.