Muranaka the Duke of sports trivia challenge

If there were championship banners for this, Royden Muranaka could hang three — and two runner-up finishes, and a third place, all in the past seven years.

I’m going to start calling him Duke. As the Blue Devils are to the NCAA basketball tournament, this mild-mannered 55-year-old is to the Napa Ultimate Sports Trivia Challenge.

The Moiliili Mauler annually steamrolls his way through the early rounds and is always there competing for the big prizes, as he is today at Dave & Buster’s. First place is a trip to Vegas for the Hawaii-UNLV football game. Muranaka has already been to Alabama and Florida for UH games and a 49ers-Rams matchup courtesy of this contest.

"He’s a beast, like Marshawn Lynch," said Kimo Silva, who has also made it to the semifinals of this year’s 64-player contest put on by 1420-AM.

Maybe we need to check if Royden is ‘roiding. But what PED exists that aids in the absorption and retention of sports information?

It’s just accumulated knowledge, they say, and that’s what gives Muranaka an edge, since he’s the eldest of the remaining players. His semifinal opponent is Edson Toma, 42, of Waikele. Silva, of Hawaii Kai, is 38, and Brandon Matsuoka, from Kalihi, is 27.

"I have a little bit of a life, I don’t sit around watching TV or reading all day," said Muranaka, who is a sales manager at University of Hawaii Press. When he’s not playing fast-pitch softball or golf, he might be fishing.

Muranaka insists there is no secret formula to winning trivia, just a lifetime passion for sports to thank. His rivals say lightning quickness makes the difference.

"The one thing about Royden is he’ll answer the question before it’s asked," said Matsuoka, who felt the wrath of Muranaka in an elite eight match a couple of years ago.

Silva said he was crushed by Muranaka in the sweet 16 three years ago. "I lost 3-0 to Royden, but it took five questions. I felt a little better about myself that at least he didn’t know two of the answers."

It’s pretty intimidating when the question starts with "Rudy," and Muranaka is already blasting away with "Kermit Washington." … knowing that "Rudy" is Rudy Tomjanovich, and the answer is the name of the player who punched out Rudy T in a 1977 NBA game.

"He is a low-key guy, but the way he barks the answers into the mic, that’s got to be disturbing for his opponents," said Bobby Curran, who moderates the contest. "And he does it in a nano-second."

Toma competed in wrestling, judo and cross country at Waipahu High. But he says making this final four is "pretty high up there" in his sports-related achievements.

"I just told my wife (Allison), I can’t believe all this useless knowledge is actually paying off," he said.

He knows he’s a big underdog today against the three-time champ.

"I just want to answer one. When I’m thinking of the answer he’s already answering," Toma said.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on Twitter as @dave_reardon.