The recently concluded American Money Group Asia Pacific Basketball Classic not only provided two nights of exciting action on the court but also helped fulfill BYU-Hawaii objectives in its target areas.
This year's tournament, held November 10-11 in the Cannon Activities Center, featured a team from Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin and the national team of New Caledonia, which won the South Pacific Games title three years ago, versus Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University and, of course, our own BYU-Hawaii men's basketball team.
"This is a tournament that's consistent with the university's special mission for our target area of Asia and the Pacific," said BYU-Hawaii Vice President of Academics Keith Roberts. He explained prior to the Classic beginning five years ago, "we had been running a Division I tournament that was oriented to bringing big-name teams from the mainland here."
"We've since had 14 teams from 10 countries over the last five years, and in some cases the publicity the school has gotten back has been outstanding," Roberts continued. "For example, Fiji's victory over China in the first Asia Pacific tournament was played on Fiji television probably 10 or 15 times."
"We have a developing relationship with the Chinese universities basketball association, and we're going to be doing training with their coaches. That's the kind of thing that we like to do."
"The tournament has also brought out our students to the basketball pre-season. For example, last year a lot of our Filipino students came to the tournament, as well as a lot of people from town; but then we noticed the students continued coming during the regular season. We anticipate the same thing will happen this year with the Chinese students."
Roberts described this year's fifth annual tournament as "outstanding. The crowds were into it, and even though the scores weren't close, nobody seemed to care. The teams really enjoyed it. The players were smiling on the court, and there was a real good esprit de corps. Afterwards, they hugged and took their pictures together."
"That's also consistent with what we're trying to do. For example, now people from New Caledonia know more about BYU-Hawaii as well as another group from China, which keeps reinforcing our image there. The people from China also approached us about getting involved in other things, such as faculty exchanges or having a couple of their students come here. There was a lot of dialog. There is every year."
"What helped us this year was having sponsors," Roberts continued. "That not only gives them visibility, but it gives credibility to the event. A sponsored event has a little more panache. It has also helped us secure the event, so it has been wonderful to have their help."
Frank Peck, CEO of American Money Group (AMG) — the Covina, California-based financial services company and primary sponsor of this year's tournament — agreed working with the Asia Pacific Classic was a worthwhile civic opportunity.
"Our company is quite unique in our approach to financial services. We believe it's important to be balanced in all areas of your life: financial, human, intellectual and civic," said Peck, who recently joined the BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center Presidents' Leadership Council.
"We're looking to set up an office in that area. We feel we're definitely providing a service, and as we've come to know some of the people here, we feel there's definitely a need." Peck added he hopes the Classic is "something we can do on an annual basis."
Joe and Caryn Morton — who operate a health-related business and are members of the Presidents' Leadership Council as well, and the Polynesian Cultural Center were also sponsors of this year's tournament.
Asked what else impressed him about the tournament, Roberts replied, "I liked the way our students were able to cheer for both our team and the team they were playing. The same people were cheering whenever either team made a basket. They were cheering the event and, in some ways, that's what it's all about."