2009 Team Aloha announced by Mayor Mufi Hannemann

Contact: Dana Takahara-Dias

The team was introduced at a news conference held court side at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena today at 2:00pm.

Tournament organizers say nearly 200 girls teams of various ages from throughout the United States, and an equal number of college scouts, will participate in the three -day event, which runs from April 17 to 19 at various arenas on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe.  The event is NCAA-sanctioned.

Team Aloha is being led by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is doubling as assistant coach, and Head Coach Dana Takahara-Dias.  Also joining the group is Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, which is sponsoring the trip.

This is the third Team Aloha.  The first earned the championship crown by going undefeated in the Nike Storm + Swish tournament held in late September 2006 in Santa Barbara, California.  The second won the consolation division in the Arizona Elite tournament last Apirl.

Said Hannemann, “The number of Hawaii players who have and are succeeding in the collegiate basketball ranks demonstrates that our student-athletes can compete against the best in the nation.  Our victories validated that our girls had the athletic ability, competitiveness, and determination to win.  They really represented the people of Hawaii with poise and class, and I’m confient this year’s team will do an equally great job.”

Amemiya said, “Our goal, as it was in 2006 and 2008, is to give our athletes exposure to college scouts to they can make the best of the opportunities available to them.  We understand that the Arizona Elite tournament is one of the best in the West for that purpose, and that’s why we’ve chosen to participate.”

Team Aloha will practice Tuesday, March 24, from 10 am to 12:30 pm at Manoa Vally District Park Gym, followed by a two-hour scrimmage with college alumnae, beginning at 5pm at Moanalua High School Gym