The BYU-Hawaii Seasiders will face-off against basketball teams from China and New Zealand next week for the 8th annual American Money Group Asia Pacific Basketball Classic.
On Friday, November 7, the BYUH men’s team will play the New Zealand Saints at 8 pm in the CAC. The lady seasiders will take on the women from the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics on Monday, November 10 at 7 pm, also in the CAC.
“The main focus of the tournament is to build relationships with other countries,” said men’s head basketball coach, Brandyn Akana. He added, “It’s a goodwill tournament and it helps strengthen the ties we have with the University’s target areas in the Asia-Pacific region.” He also mentioned how excited international students can get when a team from their home country is playing.
Commenting on the team’s status for this year, Coach Akana said, “This should be an exciting year. We have a lot of new and returning players, and we are nationally ranked, 23rd in our division—Division II of the Pacific West Conference. We are the top choice to win the conference, and already, Lucas Alves [pictured above] has been voted pre-season player of the year.” Alves, #15, is a junior from Brazil majoring in exercise and sports science.
-Photos by Monique Saenz