The 2015 Team Aloha girls basketball roster has been selected, and it has a distinctly neighbor island flavor.
Seven of the nine players, selected by team chairman Mufi Hannemann, head coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai and assistant coach Rodney Cavaco, are from the Big Island and Maui. Chanelle Molina, the Star-Advertiser player of the year, leads the cast. She is joined by sisters Celena Jane Molina and Cherilyn Molina, and a fourth Konawaena teammate, Ihi Victor.
Another Big Islander, Alexis Pana of Hilo, is on the squad again. Cameron Fernandez and Keleah-Aiko Koloi, key members of the Lahainaluna squad that met Konawaena in the state tournament final, are also in the lineup.
Punahou’s versatile center, Tyra Moe, and Roosevelt’s Keala Quinlan are the lone Oahu-based players on the squad. Victor, Pana, Moe and Chanelle Molina are returnees from last year’s unit. All nine Team Aloha players were selected to the All-State Fab 15 in February.
Team Aloha will play in the Stripes Spring Classic on Apr. 24-26. The team won its divisional championship last year.
Too bad this team isn’t in the Nike Invitational in Chicago. That is where the real competition is. Does anyone know why they don’t take these talented girls and enter into that tourney to see how they fare against the nation’s best?
Maybe it’s because the Nike event is called the Nike Invitational. You have to be invited. any mainland exposure is good for our girls. Mufi should be commended for financing this annual trip.
I guess we are not good enough then?