Theresa Anakalea did all she could in the midst of the pandemic.
Training at distant corners of Oahu while commuting from Waianae. Drills with her Damien teammates in driveways, parks and, eventually, gyms. After averaging 24 points per game as a freshman, the talented scholar-athlete was on a path to some historic numbers.
That stopped with the cancellation of the 2020-21 winter season.
“She never took a break. When the parks were closed, she would do dribble drills at home, work out,” Damien coach Mark Arquero said. “As soon as s he could, she was back shooting, going to different trainings and always putting in work. Her work ethic is amazing and her dedication is impeccable.”
With preseason nearly over for girls basketball teams, numbers have spiked in Hawaii. Every player and coach is hoping to get as many games in as possible.
“Hopefully, this COVID doesn’t cancel our season again. it’s sad enough we didn’t get to play in this past (Damien) tournament and against ‘Iolani,” Anakalea said.
The 5-foot-6 junior guard is featured in Tuesday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The matchup with ‘Iolani was cancelled, as well as three games in the cancelled Damien tourney. A matchup with D-I powerhouse Kamehameha scheduled for Wednesday afternoon is still on deck, without spectators.
Anakalea is a natural leader, the kind who is perfectly comfortable with talking with her teammates.
“The most important thing is having teamwork. We’re not pressured by anything. We’re just ready to play,” she said.
Top 3 movies/shows
1. “Coco”
2. “Twilight” (movie and series)
“I rewatched every single episode on Netflix.”
3. “Teata” (Netflix)
Top 3 food/drink/snack
1. Hawaiian food.
“Laulau or kalua pig. That’s my favorite.”
2. Funyuns
3. Arizona Iced Tea
Top 3 music artists
1. Ariana Grande – “pov”
2. Josh Tatofi – “Pua Kiele”
3. Kalohe Kai – “Round and Around”
GPA: 3.65
Favorite class: Physical Science and English.
Favorite teacher: Miss Sellona. “She’s a really good person and in her class she makes everything fun and interesting.”
Time machine
“I would go back to 2020 and revisit my grandma (Melinda Patcho) before she passed away.”
Hidden talent
“The only thing I can do is play basketball.”
New life skill: bodyboarding
“I went to the beach with all my friends around my birthday. This beach was really secret and I was kind of scared, and they were teaching me how to do it and it was fun.”
Shout outs
“My parents, definitely. My coaches and my trainers. My family. Definitely, my grandma. She was battling stage 4 cancer for two years. She tried to do what she could do before she passed away.”
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THERESA ANAKALEA
5-6
Jr.
3-0 at Nanakuli
It definitely felt amazing for all of us. We were eager to play since COVID. The feeling of playing together it felt like home for all of us. It opened our eyes to see where this season takes us.
Cancelld. It sucked really bad. For me personally, that day we were supposed to play Waipahu, me and my teammates were definitely ready to play, just starting out our season strong.
Hopefully that still stays. Then we go into the season.
Hopefully, this cOvid doesn’t cancel our season. it’s sad enough we didn’t get to play in this past tournament and against ‘Iolani
For me, personally, we definitely have the potential to play in D-I. We wanted to make a statement that we’re good as a team. With God, we can do anything through him.
In D-II, we’re excited to play and maybe take state championship and maybe next year we can go up to D-I. We can do it if we put our mind to it and put God inside us.
Coach Mark definitely talked to us about it. he def sees the potential in us to play D-I. At the end of the day, you win some and lose some, but it’s about the experience and going out on the court and having a good time.
Pandemic: I don’t miss it; Being in our home gym again, it feels good. I’m happy with whatever as long as I’m touching a basketball. I’m just happy we’re inside.
To me, it doesn’t really matter. I felt like it was just our mindset got a little stronger. Everyone’s mindsets are ready to play and take that state championship, hopefully.
Hanalani – Jacie Nava – MPI. LIshae – Pearl City.
I have no idea what happened with that team. I just heard a lot about people moving.
The hardest team is goign to be MPI.
KS – we’ve been pracitcing over the break. def vs ks we’re not going to force anything. our games at nanakuli we learned a lot about each other. the most improtant thing is having teamwork. we’re not pressured by it, we’re just ready to play.
For us, i don’t know. we’re strong against both (man and zone).
Mark always says: He tells us a lot of stuff. he always tells us to go out there, play our hardest, have fun.
ROSTER
funniest: probably, they’re all funny. Maybe Kody, one of the twins.
smartest: Tiare Arquero. She has a good mindset especially when it comes to school. Probably has the highest GPA.
clumsiest: prob Fiona. she’s just hilarious. sometimes she can’t stay on her feet.
honest: I would consider myself honest. i’m def honest and open with everyone so that they know. honestly comes with being a team leader.
most physical: Shayna Selesele. She’s a strong person down there on the block.
Age 9-10
The first time i saw coach, I don’t remember. The first team I played with was Islanders. From there I switched teams a lot. Then I went to (808) Stunnahz for a pretty long time. I didn’t travel with them. I started traveling when I went to Lightning. I was around 10 and I’m still with them until now.
MS – Coach Tony did want me there, but I didn’t want to go. I had MS and SHA that looked at me, and I didn’t get into Kamehameha. I got waitlisted. I didn’t go to MS because it wasn’t the best fit for me personally, not just education but balancing that and basketball. I went to Damien because it somewhere where I wanted to be, a good school, and it feels good to be there.
It wasn’t anything with coach Chico. I wanted to be the go-to.
Fastbreak – Usually what coach mark does he looks at their defense and how they set up. he lets us play our game cuz he knows what we can do. he wants players who lead by example. he expects some of us to speak up.
WAIANAE – I have to get up at 4 o’clock. i get to be before 10. it’s definitely hard waking up at 4 but i’ll do anything and scarfice to go to damien. i do whatever i can. my auntie (Ivone Saromines) lives in ewa beach, so my dad (George) drops me off at. She takes me and my niece to town. My niece goes to Anuenue.
Arrival at Damien – around 6:50, 7 o’clock.
I ride with Coach Mark to his house (Ewa Beach). Parents pick me up there. My dad works in Ewa goes home, then they come back to Ewa around 6 pm.
Sometimes during school i try to get my homework done during my free time so I don’t have to come home and stress about it.
Waianae HS – for me, personally, if they didn’t support me, i don’t know. I wouldn’t let that lack of support stop my dreams of playing pro. If they wanted me to stay at Waianae, i would’ve made the most of it. if you show out, people are going to see it.
I was on the NCSA app where you put videos and stuff for all the college coaches can look at your stuff. We made videos and when we get a. call from a coach we send it out to them.
Best friend Tiare: Smartest? I don’t know. it depends because we all have our own mindsets. we can be smart in our own ways. GPA 4.15.
Junior
She speaks up a lot on and off the court. She’s pretty comfortable. It feels pretty good to get into the groove of things after COVID and not playing HS for so long.
KS – i think as long as me and her keep the pace just right and talk on and off the court with our teammates we’ll keep the game close and hopefully win that game.
IG – no not really. they point out our work effort.
Top 3 movies/shows
1. “Coco”
2. “Twilight” (movie and series)
“I rewatched every single episode on Netflix.”
3. “Teata” (Netflix)
Top 3 food/drink/snack
1. Hawaiian food.
“Laulau or kalua pig. That’s my favorite.”
2. Funyuns
3. Arizona Iced Tea
Top 3 music artists
1. Ariana Grande – “P.O.V.”
2. Josh Tatofi – “Puakele”
3. Kolohe Kai – “Round and Round”
GPA: 3.65
Favorite class: Physical Science and English.
Favorite teacher: Miss Sellona. “She’s a really good person and in her class she makes everything fun and interesting.”
Time machine
“I would go back to 2020 and revisit my grandma (Melinda Patcho) before she passed away.”
Hidden talent
“The only thing I can do is play basketball.”
New life skill: bodyboarding
“I went to the beach with all my friends around my birthday. This beach was really secret and I was kind of scared, and they were teaching me how to do it and it was fun.”
Shout outs
“My parents, definitely. My coaches and my trainers. My family. Definitely, my grandma. She was battling stage 4 cancer for two years. She tried to do what she could do before she passed away.”
Theresa is solid with a great work ethic. Good luck!