Kaimuki Fa’asoas Plan At Least A Three-pronged Attack
By Jack Danilewicz
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One in a series of prep basketball previews.
Every day in practice Kaimuki head girls basketball coach Mona Fa’asoa can’t help but be excited about her team’s combination of size, quickness and athleticism. In the all-important area of attitude, the Bulldogs are hitting their stride as well, to hear her tell it.
What she likes best about them is their character.“These are all great kids. We just got back from Kona, where we played in a tournament, and they’re the most enjoyable kids to be around. They’ve bonded well, and they’re very close.”
Much is expected from them on the court with a number of veterans back in the fold and some exciting newcomers. More than anything, Fa’asoa’s imprint will be more than noticeable with three daughters - Dinishah, Letisha and Dejah - on the team. All three could also find themselves in the starting lineup when the Bulldogs open their OIA White Conference season Dec. 30 at Leilehua.
One certainty in the lineup is senior guard Olivia Phommachanh, a four-year starter and one of the top Division II players. League coaches named her to the OIA White Conference First Team last season.
“She brings excitement to basketball,“Fa’asoa said.“She’s very talented, a good shooter, and she helps to keep everyone else on track.”
As a freshman in 2005, Phommachanh burst on the local basketball scene quickly, and the Bulldogs are hoping that freshman Dejah Fa’asoa, the youngest of the three sisters, can have a similar impact this season.
A projected four-sport athlete at the school who will also compete in volleyball, softball and track, Dejah is expected to step in at the point-guard spot, where she’ll share minutes with sister Letisha, a sophomore guard.
“Dejah’s very mature for her age,” Fa’asoa said.“She’s a hard worker, and she does everything I ask.”
Letisha saw a lot of action in 2007-08 and brings more experience to the back court. “Letisha’s scrappy,” Fa’asoa said. “She’s a hard worker, and she’s very aggressive. She handles the ball well, too. Both Dejah and Letisha play an upand-down, running game.”
The oldest of the sisters, senior Dinishah, is the most experienced, having played for three years. She’ll be a guard and forward this season.“She’s short for a forward, but she knows how to rebound. She’s a pretty quick forward, and she knows how to use her body.”
Five-foot-11 senior Lani Mikaele will man the post, meanwhile, with junior Leti Mikaele and senior Ashley Fortson also expected to play. Fortson is back after a torn ACL kept her out of action last season.
“Lani came around a lot during the end of last season. Knowing what we expect of her now should benefit her.”
Guard Pua Akaka also is in the mix for the Bulldogs, who could have their most balanced lineup in years. Nikki Chipen-Ii, Mikki Morihara, Justell Authur, Tanya Villanueva, Brooke Borce and Sasha Tokuda round out the team.
“We have a good inside-outside game.We have some decent shooters and some pretty big forwards. Hopefully, we can get our offense moving. We’ve been working hard on our defense. To be able to hold the other team down makes a big difference.”
They won two of three games on the Big Island recently, against Kamehameha-Big Island and Hilo High to go with a loss to Konawaena. Kaimuki also dropped a game at Kapolei, giving them a 2-2 record heading into the latter part of the week.
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