Mariyah Oliver was named one of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said Karen Matsumoto, a Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association leader. Oliver plays for the Kaulupono Basketball program that took 19 players to participate in two divisions at the 2009 NJB
Mariyah Oliver was named one of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said Karen Matsumoto, a Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association leader.
Oliver plays for the Kaulupono Basketball program that took 19 players to participate in two divisions at the 2009 NJB Tournament on O‘ahu over the weekend.
“We lost one game, but came back and won the championship game,” said the Girls 12 and Under team assistant coach Kori Sakamoto. “I was just helping coach Pedro Saligumba with the girls.”
The victory gave the Kaulupono Under 12 team the championship in the girls division of that age group at the O‘ahu championship, and Oliver was named an MVP, Matsumoto said during a KYBA Boys 18 and Over game, Sunday night.
“The girls are resting and won’t be back until later,” she said.
That broke the tradition of teams usually returning home on the heels of their final match.
Nicole Palacio, a Kaulupono U12 player and scorekeeper for the KYBA program, showed the badge from that tournament during the KYBA Monday night games, her appearance coming on the heels of her return to Kaua‘i.
Palacio displayed her bruised ankle proudly.
“I twisted it during the last game,” the go-to player said. “It was pretty early in the game, too.”
Team members joining Oliver and Nicole Palacio include Teighler Kaulili, Casey Fernandez, Kiarra Palacio, Lauren Lagoc, Kairey Bermoy, Taylor Gaspar, Kaelyn Aquino-Kamakele, Janaiah Banasihan and Melia Okura.
The Kaulupono Basketball program is headed by Bobby Kamakele and Saligumba and features girls’ teams from U12 to U17.
