’Sword Hoopsters Excel at Pacific Games

When the Chaminade University women's basketball team reconvenes for full practices in October for the upcoming 2019-20 season, two of its returning members will hope to carry over their summer success.
 
And for a former Silversword men's player, his success was history in the making.

All three – Kali Benavente, Destiny Castro and Michael Sakazaki – were vital members for their native Guam during the recent XVI Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, which is the region's version of the Olympics.
 
For incoming seniors Benavente and Castro, they helped lead the Guam women's team to the bronze medal game, its first medal game appearance since 1999. Although the team fell short in the third-place contest (an 87-85 loss to Samoa on a long jumper with 4 seconds left), Guam's fourth-place finish was still its highest since capturing the bronze in '99.
 
Castro, who ranks No. 3 in the Silverswords' all-time scoring list, did in Samoa what the entire Pacific West Conference knows; she's really, really good. During her six contests (all starts), she finished fifth in scoring (18.5 points per game), seventh in rebounding (9.3) and assists (2.5) and first in steals (4.0). She had three double-doubles, all of which she scored over 20-points.
 
Castro posted 27 points and 12 boards in a group phase game against eventual gold medal winner American Samoa then had one of the top all-around performances by any of the games' individuals with a 24-point, 17-rebound, 8-steal contest over Tahiti. She completed the games with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists against Samoa. Her efforts landed her on the All-Star Five.
 
Castro, a PacWest First Team member and the program's first-ever all-region selection in '18-19, also had the honor of leading Guam's entire athletic group by carrying the island's flag during the games' opening ceremonies.
 
"I'm extremely proud of my team and the outcome of the tournament," Castro said. "Although we didn't end with a medal, we played hard every game and fought until the final buzzer. I'm honored to be a part of the team."

 
Benavente, meanwhile, didn't put up the eye-popping numbers like her CUH teammate but remained a steady contributor throughout. Like Castro, she started all six games with 4.5-point, 2.5-rebound and 1.0-assist averages.
 
Both are hoping their successes will carry over to their upcoming senior years with one final shot to get the 'Swords to their first-ever post-season berth next March.
 
"I will use this success to help and guide my teammates through the season," Castro said. "I hope I can share my experience from the Pacific Games and help guide us to a winning season."
 
Meanwhile Sakazaki, who last donned a Silversword uniform in 2017 and is now a branch manager at Bank of Hawai'i at the Kamehameha Center, was a part of history.
 
The Guam men's 3x3 (3-on-3) team beat previously undefeated Fiji in the gold medal game, 20-18 in overtime, by scoring the game's final seven points, avenging their only loss of the tournament. Sakazaki and his teammates captured the gold in Pacific Games' first-ever 3x3 tournament. It was a grueling stretch with pool and bracket games completed in a span of 72 hours.
 
"It was truly an experience and honor to represent my island in the first-ever 3x3 basketball Pacific Games tournament," Sakazaki said. "Eight games in three days truly takes its toll on the body but mentally preparing for the games and knowing that you're playing for something bigger than yourself makes the biggest difference.
 

"I personally want to thank the Chaminade coaching staff and trainers for the opportunities they gave me from 2013 to 17. I wouldn't be in this position today to represent my island on a high level without that opportunity."