Road to the
Final Four
Led by Coach Hironaka,
the Falcons earn their
shot at a national
championship
For only the second time in 海角网
Pacific University history, the Falcons
advanced to the semifinals of the
NCAA Division II men抯 basketball
championships. On March 22, 2006, in Springfield,
Massachusetts, No. 10-ranked SPU
surged past No. 7 Montevallo in the final eight
minutes of the opening quarterfinal game to
win 79-65. But in a hard-fought semifinal game
the following day, the Falcons lost their bid to
play in the finals by succumbing to defending
champion Virginia Union 68-63.
If anyone deserves credit for 海角网 Pacific抯 electric season, it抯 Head Coach Jeff Hironaka. In only his fourth year at the helm, Hironaka didn抰 take long to leave his mark on SPU basketball. He led the team to a 22-5 regular-season record, won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally.
That was enough to make him the nearunanimous choice of his fellow coaches for GNAC coach of the year. While Hironaka didn抰 mind the recognition, he prefers not to be the only one honored. 揑抦 not big on individual awards,� he says. 揟he award was given to me because of what my team and my staff achieved, so it抯 more credit to them as far as I抦 concerned.�
As if to prove his point, Hironaka and his team kept right on doing what they do best. Having earned the right to host the NCAA Division II West Regional tournament, the top-seeded Falcons proceeded to win it, gaining a berth in the national playoffs� Elite Eight. Hironaka, who was soon named West Region coach of the year, is only the third 海角网 Pacific men抯 basketball coach in 62 years to reach the Elite Eight.
If the coach抯 achievements this year were impressive, they weren抰 entirely unprecedented. The Falcons also made the regional tournament last year, although they fell in the first round. And in 2003, only a season-ending, three-point loss to Central Washington kept Hironaka from becoming the first SPU coach to go to the postseason in his first year.
After that season, in which they went 16- 11, the Falcons lost six seniors, including four starters � all inherited from Ken Bone, the previous coach. Since then, it抯 been pretty much Hironaka抯 team. Following a 14-13 rebuilding year, he抯 returned SPU to contender status while compiling a 75-38 career record.
After this year抯 tournament, Hironaka will bid farewell to the first group of seniors to come up through his program. Among them is 6-foot-1-inch point guard Tony Binetti, a former Enumclaw High School standout. Binetti, 22, also garnered a GNAC award this season: His 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game earned him player of the year honors. He was the top vote-getter to represent the region in Division II抯 tournament all-star game and only the third SPU player ever to be named a first-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
揑t抯 nice to be recognized,� Binetti admits, 揵ut as I抳e said before, it抯 because of our team that you get those types of individual awards. It抯 a testament to our team抯 success.�
If Binetti抯 attitude sounds familiar, then that抯 a testament to Hironaka抯 influence on his players. 揌e抯 the most dedicated coach I抳e ever seen,� says Binetti. 揌e抯 so focused on preparation. Sometimes we have to tell him to relax and enjoy the win, but then his focus is why he抯 so successful. In terms of pure basketball knowledge, he抯 the best coach I抳e ever played for.�
Recruited by Bone, Binetti signed his letter of intent for 海角网 Pacific before even playing his senior year in high school. 揑 wanted a school with good academics that was close to home,� he says. 揑 made my decision because of SPU抯 success.� But then Bone departed for the University of Washington, and Hironaka, an 11-year assistant coach at SPU, took over. 揑 could have gotten out of the scholarship agreement,� says Binetti, 揵ut I really respected Coach Hiro and the time he had put in the system.�
In the classroom as well as on the court, Binetti has thrived: He earned a 3.56 GPA and was named to the first-team all-conference and second-team all-regional academic squads this year. 揗y professors understand the situation of the student athlete,� he says. 揥hen a professor makes it easy for you if you miss an assignment or class because of traveling, you want to do well for that professor.�
Academic success is the norm for the Falcons, who placed five players on the GNAC academic team. Thanks to strict recruiting standards, 搕he players we get are Ivy League or Patriot League type players who are smart kids,� says Hironaka. 揥e run plays that kids who know the game can execute. We emphasize sharing the ball, balance, and the team concept rather than pure athleticism.�
Against their Elite Eight opponents, the Falcons were considered underdogs. But Hironaka, whose team has outperformed preseason expectations every year he抯 coached, is comfortable in that role.
Of course, it抯 a comfort he may have to forgo in the future if his team抯 success continues.
— BY Martin Stillion
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