Former Mid-Pacific standout Kyle Husslein helped Guam end a 36-year gold medal drought in Pacific Games men’s basketball with a 78-61 victory over Fiji on Sunday at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Although Husslein didn’t score in the championship game, the reserve guard finished the tournament with 71 points, 15 rebounds and 11 steals as Guam went 8-1. The team’s lone loss came against Fiji during the qualifying round, 75-72.
Guam had taken the silver medal in the past five Pacific Games. The nation’s last gold came in 1979 in Suva, Fiji.
Husslein, who was born on Guam, is an incoming sophomore on the University of the Redlands basketball team.
Trio of local surfers eliminated
Three Hawaii surfers were eliminated Monday during the J-Bay Open at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.
In the second round, Dusty Payne was defeated by Brazil’s Italo Ferreira 15.96-15.16 and Sebastian Zietz fell to Australia’s Matt Wilkinson 14.80-13.93.
In the partially completed third round, Fredrick Patacchia was ousted by Australia’s Julian Wilson 17.94-8.40.
The only Hawaii competitor remaining in the contest is Keanu Asing, who will face Australia’s Josh Kerr in the third round.
Hawaii team wins bronze at senior games
A team of local hoopsters took the bronze medal in the men’s basketball 70-older Division II bracket at the National Senior Games at St. Paul, Minn.
“The Hawaiians” went 1-3 in pool play. In bracket play, they won both their games Friday and lost twice Saturday to claim the bronze.
The team members were Wayne Kihune, David Chun, Jerry Schletzbaum, Walter Higa and Clifford Shin.
The games will run through Thursday.
Chaminade hosting golf fundraiser
The third annual Chaminade Athletics Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for the school’s 10 intercollegiate teams, is scheduled for Aug. 10 at Olomana Golf Links.
Check-in for the three-person modified scramble is at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. The cost is $150 for individuals and $450 for three-person teams, and includes green fees, lunch and an awards banquet dinner.
For more information, call the school’s athletic department at 735-4790. Sign-up forms are available at goswords.com.
Transpac Yacht Race gets underway
The 48th edition of the Transpacific Yacht Race began Monday with 22 entries in Divisions 7 and 8 leaving Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Calif., for Honolulu.
The 2,225-mile biennial race will end at the Diamond Head buoy.
Yachts in Divisions 4, 5 and 6 will start the race Thursday and entries in multihull and Divisions I, 2 and 3 will begin Saturday.
4 gain Hawaii Waterman induction
Four individuals will be inducted into the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame on Aug. 24 at the Outrigger Canoe Club.
The inductees are Joey Cabell, a surfer, restaurateur and philanthropist; Duane DeSoto, a world longboard champion; Walter Guild, a champion paddler; and Soichi Sakamoto, who coached some of Hawaii’s top swimmers.
The induction ceremony will be on the eve of Duke Kahanamoku’s 125th birthday.
4 local teams in National Cup XIV Finals
Four teams from Hawaii will compete in the National Cup XIV Finals soccer tournament from July 17-20 at Westfield, Ind.
The teams are the Rush 02G (girls 13 premier group), HSC Bulls 99G (girls 16 super group), Rush 02B (boys 13 super group) and Hawaii Rush 2000B (boys 15 super group). ——— Star-Advertiser staff
