‘Bows’ Joaquim is WAC’s player of the week

Vander Joaquim had to check for himself to make sure.

The Hawaii junior center reacted with surprise at around noon on Monday when he was informed that he was the Western Athletic Conference’s player of the week for his efforts in the Rainbow Warriors’ recent two-game interisland road trip.

He is the first ‘Bow to receive the weekly honor this season.

It was also the first of his career.

“Nobody told me about it. It’s great, man,” Joaquim said. “To be the first one, that means there are people out there looking out for me. I didn’t even know. So I’m just going to continue to keep working.”

Joaquim was left out of the WAC postseason awards as a sophomore, despite breaking out to average a double-double in conference play. He didn’t earn a spot on the honorable mention or all-newcomer teams, either.

He was named a preseason All-WAC player by the league’s coaches this season (second team by the media), and has made recent steps toward justifying it.

The 6-foot-10 Angolan averaged 17.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game against Hawaii-Hilo in Kailua-Kona on Friday and North Carolina A&T in Wailuku on Sunday.

He shot 65 percent (13-for-20) from the field and 90 percent (9-for-10) at the free-throw line in those games while many of his teammates struggled with their shot.

His effective island hopping raised his season averages to 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and his field-goal percentage climbed to .494.

“I’m happy for our team, you know. We won and I got an award this week; that’s great, man,” Joaquim said. “That’s a good feeling.”

UH (5-4) rides a three-game winning streak into the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, starting with Thursday’s game against Auburn (6-1).

The Rainbows had Monday off to recover from the weekend trip and will resume practice today.