Hawaii-ties a plenty for the Saint Martin’s University baseball team

Hawaii-ties a plenty for the Saint Martin’s University baseball team

Mar 5, 2026

Hawaii-ties a plenty for the Saint Martin’s University baseball team

Kamehameha-Maui alum Bransyn Hong is the Saint Martin’s starting shortstop as a true freshman. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

The Saint Martin’s University baseball team has a distinctly local feel — if you’re from Hawai‘i.

Half of the Saints’ 40-man roster is made up of players from the islands, giving the program based in Lacey, Washington a strong Hawai‘i presence as it opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against Montana State Billings this weekend.

Freshman shortstop Bransyn Hong, a Kamehameha Schools Maui graduate, has been one of the early standouts. Hong leads the Saints in runs scored with 15 and is tied for the team lead with 12 RBIs heading into conference play.

Despite being a true freshman, Hong has already secured the starting shortstop role.

“It’s actually one of the reasons why I came here,” Hong said of the program’s Hawai‘i ties. “There’s 40 kids on the roster right now, and then 20 of them are from Hawai‘i. Definitely the connection is there for me and that’s why I came here to Saint Martin’s.”

For many of the island players, that shared background has helped ease the transition of playing college baseball thousands of miles from home.

Mililani graduate Zen Staszkow said having so many Hawai‘i teammates helps when homesickness sets in.

“Definitely it helps with being homesick,” Staszkow said.

Homecoming in Hawai‘i

Earlier this season, the Saints made their second trip to the islands in three years, playing doubleheaders against Hawai‘i Pacific University and Chaminade University of Honolulu.

The games were played at Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu, giving the Hawai‘i players a chance to perform in front of family and friends.

For Staszkow, a junior infielder, it marked his second time returning home with the Saints.

“It means a lot playing in front of your family,” Staszkow said. “Everybody gets to come and just play ball.”

Zen Staszkow heads to the plate against Chaminade. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

The trip also provided a chance to enjoy a few comforts from home.

Staszkow said one highlight was eating bentos and spending time with family after the games in Waipahu. Hong said one of his favorite parts of the visit was getting fresh poke.

“The fish is a lot better here than back in Lacey,” Hong said.

Hong added that several family members traveled from Maui to watch him play.

“My entire immediate family, my grandma, my grandpa, my cousins, uncles, aunties all flew over just to come see me play,” Hong said. “It feels great.”

Leilehua alum Blaze Wong started a game against Chaminade when the Saints visited Hawai’i. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Island players shine during Hawai‘i trip

The Hawai‘i contingent made its presence felt during the Saints’ series in the islands.

Staszkow, a Mililani High School alum, recorded the team’s lone hit in the first game against Hawai‘i Pacific.

In a 3-1 victory over HPU in the second game, ‘Iolani School graduate Cole Yonamine delivered a two-RBI double. Hong also added a hit and scored a run, while Staszkow chipped in with another hit.

In a 4-2 loss to Chaminade, Hong went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Yonamine finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, driving in Hong. Leilehua High School alum Blaze Wong also made the start on the mound, while Kelton Tom contributed a hit as the designated hitter.

In the second game against the Silverswords, ‘Iolani School graduate Rylen Miyazaki went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter, while Staszkow added another hit.

‘Iolani graduate Cole Yonamine stands behind the plate in a non-conference game against Chaminade. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Hawai‘i players contributing across the roster

Island players have been key contributors for the Saints in multiple areas heading into conference play.

Hong continues to lead the team in runs scored and is tied for the most RBIs.

Wong owns the team’s best pitching record at 3-1 in five starts with 26 innings pitched. Baldwin graduates Bryson Nakamoto and Kip Watanabe, along with Kamehameha-Maui alum Raige Velez, have also seen action on the mound.

‘Iolani’s Tyler Young tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts earlier this season.

At the plate, freshman Dillon Andres from Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama has logged 37 at-bats and is among the Saints’ home run hitters this season playing third base. Tom, a senior from Kamehameha-Maui, has also provided power with a home run and a double.

Miyazaki enters conference play batting .400, while Yonamine has contributed both behind the plate and in the outfield.

Freshman Zion Ishikawa from ‘Aiea High School scored his first collegiate run against Bushnell on Feb. 14, and ‘Iolani’s Ethan Akagi recorded his first collegiate stolen base against Cal State East Bay on March 1.

With half the roster hailing from the islands, the Saints’ clubhouse carries a strong Hawai‘i influence — something players say makes being far from home a little easier.

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Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network Goes Fully Digital March 1

Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network Goes Fully Digital March 1

Feb 27, 2026

Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network Goes Fully Digital March 1

Beginning March 1, Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network is officially moving forward as a fully digital, independent sports media platform.

If you’ve been part of the HSRN community over the years, here’s what you need to know:

Our coverage isn’t going anywhere.

“This isn’t an ending — it’s an evolution,” said Ku‘ulei Agbayani, Operations Manager and host of Wake Up in The Den. “We’ve always been more than a frequency. We built a brand, a community, and a platform that extends far beyond traditional radio. This next chapter allows us to grow with intention and without limitation.”

While terrestrial broadcasts on AM 760 and 95.1 FM conclude at the end of February, everything you rely on continues — just delivered digitally.

What’s Staying the Same

You’ll still get:

  • The weekday morning show – Wake Up in The Den w/ Ku‘ulei Agbayani & Paul Brecht

  • Live play-by-play broadcasts of OIA and HPU athletic events

  • Comprehensive coverage of University of Hawai‘i athletics

  • On-demand podcasts and archived programming

  • Web editorial content and expanded digital storytelling

  • National 24/7 sports programming from our partners at VSiN, broadcasting live from Las Vegas

The only change is how you access it.

Instead of tuning in on a traditional radio frequency, you’ll stream us live online — and you’ll be able to listen back on demand anytime.

In many ways, this move expands accessibility, allowing listeners across Hawai‘i and beyond to stay connected wherever they are.

 

What’s Next

As HSRN enters this new chapter, we’re working on platform enhancements, expanded programming, and new ways to engage the Hawai‘i sports community in the months ahead.

“HSRN was built to serve Hawai‘i sports,” Agbayani added. “That mission hasn’t changed. If anything, it just got stronger.”

 

How to Listen

Bookmark: hawaiisportsradio.com/live
Follow us on social media: @hisportsradio

We’re moving forward — and we’re glad you’re with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I stream HSRN live?

Visit hawaiisportsradio.com and click the “Listen Live” button (or click here) beginning March 1. Our live stream will be available directly from the homepage and mobile-friendly for easy access on your phone, tablet, or desktop.

 

Will live play-by-play still be available?

Yes. All live play-by-play broadcasts of OIA and HPU events will continue — streamed live online and available for replay on demand afterward.

 

Is the stream free?

Yes. Streaming HSRN will remain free for listeners.

 

Will the morning show still air?

Absolutely! Although there may be some momentary interruptions during our first week of transition, Wake Up in The Den w/ Ku‘ulei Agbayani & Paul Brecht will continue weekday mornings 8-10 a.m. HT — now streamed live and archived for on-demand listening.

 

Can I listen outside of Hawai‘i?

Yes. One benefit of going fully digital is expanded access. Listeners can tune in from anywhere with an internet connection.

 

Is HSRN launching an app?

We are currently developing a dedicated HSRN mobile app to make live streaming and on-demand access even easier. More details will be announced soon.

 

Why is this change happening?

The sports media landscape is evolving. Audiences increasingly listen online, through mobile devices, and on their own schedule. By moving fully digital, HSRN can focus resources on content creation and coverage rather than traditional broadcast infrastructure — ensuring long-term sustainability and continued investment in Hawai‘i sports.

Two Hawai‘i Quarterbacks Take Center Stage in NFL’s First-Ever Game in Spain

Two Hawai‘i Quarterbacks Take Center Stage in NFL’s First-Ever Game in Spain

Nov 13, 2025

Image via YouTube (Washington Commanders & Miami Dolphins)

Two Hawai‘i Quarterbacks Take Center Stage in NFL’s First-Ever Game in Spain

HSRN STAFF | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2025

When the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders take the field in Madrid this Sunday, the NFL will be making history in Europe. But for many fans back home in Hawai‘i, the spotlight is on something even more meaningful than the league’s first-ever regular-season game in Spain: two starting quarterbacks from the islands leading their teams on one of the sport’s biggest international stages.

Tua Tagovailoa and Marcus Mariota — both born and raised in Hawai‘i, both graduates of Honolulu’s Saint Louis School, and both the pride of a passionate ootball community — will guide their teams into Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with millions watching around the world.

It’s a moment layered with cultural significance, personal pride, and a shared sense of home.

For Tagovailoa, now firmly established as a franchise cornerstone in Miami, Sunday’s matchup also brings a sense of nostalgia. Asked this week about lining up opposite Mariota, he didn’t hesitate to reflect on how formative Mariota was for him growing up.

“Long story short, I think a lot of people know I looked up to Marcus when I was in high school,” Tagovailoa said. “He was at Oregon, then when he transitioned into the NFL with Tennessee, I was a big fan of him. Still am — just of the person that he is outside of the player. I’m just happy for his success.”

Tagovailoa has always been clear that he doesn’t frame matchups as quarterback-versus-quarterback, emphasizing instead that he’ll be competing against Washington’s defense, not Mariota himself. But the respect is obvious, and the moment is undeniably special for both.

Tua Tagovailoa and Marcus Mariota in 2014 (KHON2 Sports)

Mariota, the veteran now leading the Commanders, spoke from a place of gratitude during his press availability in Madrid. For him, representing Hawai‘i this far from home adds an extra layer of meaning.

“Very, very honored — and I don’t take that lightly,” he said. “For us really, like Tua and myself, we grew up in the middle Pacific far away from here. The fact of the matter is that we get a chance to be a part of this game is very special, and I don’t take that for granted at all. I do enjoy the experience, I do enjoy being away from the country, and we’re going to do our best to put out a great product and a great show. I’m excited for the challenge on Sunday.”

The shared upbringing of the two quarterbacks is well-documented, but seeing their journeys converge in a landmark global showcase is a rare alignment.

The Saint Louis Crusader “pipeline” has long been a point of pride in Hawai‘i football — from high school dominance to national awards to the Heisman Trophy that Mariota brought home in 2014 — but never has it been highlighted on a stage quite like this.

For Polynesian athletes around the world, this matchup is more than a scheduling quirk. It’s visibility. It’s representation. It’s proof that talent from Hawai‘i can rise from local parks and community fields to the NFL and then travel even further — to Europe, Asia, and any corner of the world where football takes root next.

The NFL has continued to expand its international presence over the last decade, but bringing the regular season to Spain marks a new chapter. Local fans will see their first live taste of American football at the highest level. And the faces leading that debut just happen to be two quarterbacks who carry the pride of the islands with them wherever they go.

Tagovailoa and Mariota won’t share the field directly on Sunday, but their stories will inevitably be intertwined. One grew up admiring the other. Both carved their own path to the league. And now, both will stand at the center of a historic moment — two Hawai‘i boys on opposite sidelines, in front of a global audience, thousands of miles from home yet carrying their home with them.

For Hawai‘i, it’s a moment worth savoring. For the NFL, it’s an example of how far the sport can travel. And for Tagovailoa and Mariota, it’s a reminder of where their journey began, and how far it has already taken them.

📌 Game Details: NFL in Spain – Week 11

  • Matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Commanders

  • Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025

  • Kickoff Time: 4:30 a.m. HST | 6:30 a.m. PT | 9:30 a.m. ET | 3:30 p.m. local (Madrid)

  • Location: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium — Madrid, Spain

  • Watch: NFL Network / NFL+

  • Notable storyline: First regular-season NFL game ever held in Spain

USF outlasts San Jose State in historic 5OT Hawaii Bowl

USF outlasts San Jose State in historic 5OT Hawaii Bowl

Dec 25, 2024

University of South Florida football players pose with the Hawaii Bowl trophy after a record 5OT game win over San Jose State, 41-39. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

USF outlasts San Jose State in historic 5OT Hawaii Bowl

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 25, 2024

HONOLULU – ‘Twas the night before Christmas… until it was Christmas Day. 

The University of South Florida football team punctuated an emotionally-taxing season in the Hawaii Bowl on Tuesday night, surviving an FBS Bowl-record quintuple-overtime (5OT) title bout with San Jose State (7-6, 3-4 Mountain West) with 41-39 decision as the Bulls delivered the American Athletic Conference its first victory in three appearances in the bowl located in the islands. While the game began on Christmas Eve on the east coast, a winner would not be decided before Santa Claus had officially started his day of work. 

Kicking off at 3 p.m. HT/8 p.m. ET, the 21st edition of the Hawaii Bowl lasted four hours and 18 minutes and was the first to go to overtime since the 2005 game between Nevada and the University of Central Florida. It was just the third time in total that a Hawaii Bowl needed extra time to decide a winner in total, seeing a triple-overtime game between Hawai’i and Houston in the second year of the Hawaii Bowl’s existence.

Not only was it the longest game in the history of the event, but it was also the second-closest final margin with two points separating the teams. The 2005 overtime game between Nevada and UCF was the tightest among the 21 games, decided by one point in a 49-48 win by the Wolfpack, while the 2024 edition matched the final margin of the 2022 game between Middle Tennessee and San Diego State. 

USF kicker John Cannon was named the Hugh Yoshida Most Valuable Player after he hit three field goals (33, 41, 36), one to send the game to overtime and another to extend the night to a third overtime in a night he contributed 13 points in total from his right leg. Fittingly, wide receiver Sean Atkins led USF with 11 receptions for 104 yards as the former walk-on turned all-time program great finished his career as the Bulls’ all-time leader in both career receiving yards (2,167) and catches (200).

USF all-time leading receiver Sean Atkins is held up by teammates after breaking the program record for career receiving yards in his final game with the Bulls. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

The Bulls (7-6, 4-4 AAC) raced out to a 14-0 lead after a pair of turnovers by San Jose State, seeing the Spartans get points for the first time with 2:09 left in the second quarter as Floyd Chalk IV powered his way into the end zone from three yards out. USF wasted little time responding as Ta’Ron Keith returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards, tied for the third-longest kickoff return in Hawaii Bowl history and the first run back for a touchdown since San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny did it in 2015, to restore the two-possession lead. 

San Jose State slowly crept back into the game with a quick drive down the field over the final 113 seconds of the opening half, tacking on a 42-yard field goal right before the break to go into the locker room trailing 21-10. It was the first of three field goal makes for San Jose State senior Kyler Halvorsen, a former Hawai’i football specialist and Kaiser high school alum (‘21), in his second straight year playing a bowl game back in the place he used to call home. 

Halverson’s second field goal came six minutes into the third quarter, bringing San Jose State back within one possession as the momentum continued to shift. The Spartans forced a three-and-out on the next drive, returning the ball to the offense with a chance to pull even closer in the third. 

The offense obliged, going 85 yards in six plays for a touchdown to pull within a point as junior quarterback Walker Eget connected with tight end Jackson Canaan for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:41 left to play in the third. USF looked to finally respond to the 13 straight points by San Jose State to begin the fourth quarter, driving into the red zone before Noah McNeal-Franklin sacked Bulls’ quarterback Bryce Archie and forced the AAC team to settle for a 33-yard field goal to make it a 24-20 lead with 13 minutes to play. 

The Spartans would go three-and-out after the field goal, giving USF an opportunity to grab some breathing room with just under 12 minutes left in regulation but an Archie interception directly to the chest of McNeal-Franklin set up San Jose State on the Bulls’ two-yard line. Lamar Radcliffe punched it into paydirt on the very next play, giving the Spartans their first lead of the entire night, 27-24, with 11:14 remaining.  

The SJSU defense continued to hold, forcing three straight punts to give the offense the ball with a chance to run out the final 1:15 and only two timeouts for USF to use. The defense for the Bulls stood strong, forcing a punt by San Jose State with 53 seconds left to give the team one more chance to tie or take the lead. 

The offense worked to perfection. 

USF started with fantastic field position, beginning the final drive on the 50-yard line and 43 seconds to work with. An excellent effort to bounce off contact and get a first down by Nay’Quan Wright paused the clock momentarily as the chains moved, setting the tone as the Bulls worked 27 yards into field goal range to give Cannon a chance to bank a 41-yard kick off the right upright just before time expired to tie the game, 27-27. 

Both sides traded touchdowns and field goals in the first two overtimes, forcing a two-point conversion contest to decide a winner. After three rounds of one-play drives, USF finally prevailed in the second-longest college football game of the 2024 season with a defensive stop in the fifth overtime, 41-39. 

San Jose State QB Walker Eget set a new Hawaii Bowl record with 58 passing attempts, completing a record-tying 33 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. Matthew Coleman led the Spartans with 119 yards on 12 catches, the fourth-most receptions in a Hawaii Bowl ever. 

Bryce Archie, who stepped into the starting role for USF midway through the year after starter Byrum Brown went down with an injury and helped lead the Bulls to bowl eligibility, completed 24-of-35 passes for 235 yards while tossing an interception. Three different players recorded a rushing touchdown for the AAC representatives, including Kelly Joiner Jr., who finished with 33 yards on the ground and ends his career with the fifth-most rushing yards in program history. 

“That’s all we ever work on, just play the next play,” USF second-year head coach Alex Golesh said of his team’s fight. “These guys are resilient. They’ve been through a lot, they’ve been through a lot this year alone, and they just kept being resilient and I’m proud of them. The outcome could have happened either way and I still would have been really proud of the resiliency to just keep swinging.” 

Mana Wahine Wednesday: HNN Digital Sports Reporter Cienna Pilotin

Mana Wahine Wednesday: HNN Digital Sports Reporter Cienna Pilotin

Dec 18, 2024

HNN digital sports reporter Cienna Pilotin interviews Campbell QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. | Photo Credit: Cienna Pilotin

Mana Wahine Wednesday: HNN Digital Sports Reporter Cienna Pilotin

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 18, 2024

HONOLULU – It’s always normal to feel a bit sentimental during the holidays. 

In her third year with Hawaii News Now, digital sports reporter Cienna Pilotin thinks back on the little girl from Maui that would ask during Christmas time for a trip over to O’ahu to go to a game at the University of Hawai’i. While sports media was not the original plan, she is grateful to have ended up in the field as a lifelong sports fan. 

A former volleyball player, Pilotin grew up loving all kinds of sports in a family that enjoyed everything from the field to the court. Much like most Hawai’i sports fans with professional teams, her loyalties reside in different cities for a multitude of reasons and her heart remains passionate for athletics. 

While she was a volleyball player, she remembers growing up in the prime Kobe-Los Angeles Lakers years and cheering along with her dad as her love for hoops expanded. Her football team – the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs – is a love that came at a younger age as she followed along in her aunt’s path of cheering the Chiefs. 

“All these people think that I’m a bandwagon, I promise you I’m not,” Pilotin laughed as she explained. “My mom’s sister actually lived in Kansas City for a while, so she’s like a huge Chiefs fan, raised her whole family to be Chiefs fans and so I just followed with her – and I went through all the times of them not being good.” 

She continued to get more into football in high school and even found herself becoming a bigger hockey fan during her time in college at UNLV with an expansion franchise overlapping with her stay in the Ninth Island. While she loved sports, it wasn’t the path she had chosen for her undergraduate studies – that would be business, with an interest in marketing of course. 

Pilotin during her graduation from UNLV. | Photo Credit: Cienna Pilotin

That led her back to Hawai’i, more specifically O’ahu, where she then interned at Hawaii News Now. That experience changed the calculation for Pilotin, sending her back to school to get her master’s degree in journalism as she went from the business side of things to the world of media. 

“I look back and I wouldn’t have done it any other way, but I can’t imagine what I would be doing in business,” Pilotin said. “I knew I liked marketing, so within business that was like my focus. So, I took a lot of marketing classes, and I really liked it, and I think that kind of helped me to where I’m at today. I learned a lot from it so I wouldn’t change a thing.”  

She has worked at HNN since 2022, continuing to create her own niche in a world that is oversaturated with voices and outlets to consume information from. Whether it be in tandem working with Kyle Chinen in the field or on HNN Overtime or doing postgame after Hawai’i football home contests, she has worked hard to be essentially everywhere at the same time. 

Hawai’i high school football remains above all though for Pilotin. She has seen the elite showmanship of a Las Vegas Golden Knights home game, been to the Super Bowl for work and watched her own team win it and experienced dozens of other environments throughout the sports landscape and yet, it is the Hawai’i high school football scene that has captured her interest the most. 

“Nothing compares to high school football here … when it’s high school football season, it’s just so fun and you have social media [with it],” Pilotin said. “I’ve kind of just been on TikTok recently, I’m trying to make myself versed with the kids, I guess. So, I see a lot of discussion on TikTok during high school football season and I’ve just done a whole deep dive. The fandom here is so entertaining and nothing comes close to it.” 

Her recent enjoyment for the overwhelming entity that is Hawai’i high school football has not stopped her from coverage of anything and everything having to relate with the islands. Pilotin continues to expand her portfolio with coverage of the NFL Draft for players with Hawai’i-ties, the Olympics, the Super Bowl, University of Hawai’i athletics and nearly every high school sport there is. 

Pilotin on-site for coverage of Super Bowl LVIII between the Chiefs and 49ers. | Photo Credit: Cienna Pilotin

As one of only a handful of women in the industry in the local market, Pilotin says she has had nothing but kindness shown to her by most of her male colleagues, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to see the continued influx of young female talent into a field that has long been dominated by men. 

“You would like to see more females working in this industry,” she said. “I think that’s kind of what we are headed towards, but it’s hard to get your foot in the door and stay there. It takes a lot of sacrifice.” 

It takes weekend, holidays, late nights and lots of work, but Pilotin is happy to do it. She also is more than happy to be a resource for any young women hoping to follow in the path and pursue their sport media dreams – or whatever it may be. 

“I just always want young women – or anybody listening – to feel like they have a voice and if they ever have any questions or are trying to break through into anything, they can reach out to me and I would be happy to help in any way,” Pilotin said. 

At the end of the day, she’s simply happy to be where she is – and is excited to see what the future may bring. No matter what, she’ll be there and will be happy to see anyone else along for the ride. 

Warriors stun Clippers in Hawai’i pre-season opener with Waters’ buzzer-beater

Warriors stun Clippers in Hawai’i pre-season opener with Waters’ buzzer-beater

Oct 6, 2024

Lindy Waters III (left) celebrates hitting a game-winner with Golden State teammates while Kobe Brown (right) walks off for the Clippers. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Warriors stun Clippers in Hawai’i pre-season opener with Waters’ buzzer-beater 

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 6, 2024

HONOLULU – Fans came for Steph Curry, but it was Lindy Waters III that gave them the show. 

The Golden State Warriors stunned the Los Angeles Clippers in the preseason opener for both teams, 91-90, in front of a raucous, sold-out Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawai’i. It was the second consecutive year that the Clippers have come to Hawai’i to begin training camp and play a preseason game and was the first time the Warriors had held training camp in the islands since Curry was drafted.  

Hawai’i fans were treated to just over a quarter’s worth of action from Steph, who went 0-for-4 from 3-point range and just 2-of-8 overall after a long summer of travel and competition for the USA men’s basketball team in the Olympics. The Warriors played 19 players throughout the afternoon, including veteran Draymond Green and offseason additions De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson. 

The Clippers held a three-point lead after a quarter of play, 26-23, despite committing nine turnovers as a team. James Harden tacked together a team-best nine points in the first 12 minutes of action, drilling a pair of 3-pointers and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. 

Another five turnovers in the 2nd quarter and an 0-of-7 showing from 3-point range for the Clippers combined with the Warriors shooting 50 percent from the field saw Golden State swing in front for the halftime break by four, 53-49, to the delight of many fans in attendance. 

Rotations shifted once the second half began as stars on both teams like Curry, Green and Harden became glued to the bench after getting their toes wet for the 2024-25 season in the first half of the preseason opener. The Warriors allowed younger starters such as Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandon Podziemski to play into the third while Lindy Waters III, who was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason, made his first entrance in the game. 

The result was an ugly 3rd quarter for the visiting Warriors as Los Angeles’ defense, under the watchful eye of new assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy, held Golden State to 25 percent shooting (6-of-24 FG) in the frame. The Clippers would shoot 40 percent from the floor in the meantime, using a pair of Bones Hyland triples to take a two-point advantage into the final frame. 

Then, it was Lindy Waters III time. 

The 6-foot-6 forward drilled four 3-pointers on five attempts in the 4th quarter, including the game-winner as time expired. Down by two, Waters worked his way towards the right wing and elevated just in front of the Clippers bench to knock down the decider and give Golden State a 91-90 lead with no time left on the clock and send the arena into a frenzy.

Waters III led all scorers with a game-high 15 points (5-of-7 3PT) in the preseason opener. Former lottery pick Moses Moody added 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench for the Warriors while offseason addition De’Anthony Melton poured in eight points in his first appearance for Golden State. 

Clippers center Ivica Zubac paced scorers for Los Angeles, tallying 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 day at the free throw line. James Harden ended his first preseason game with the organization with 13 points while Kobe Brown and Norman Powell each chipped in 11 points apiece. 

The Clippers return to the continent for the remainder of the NBA preseason with a home matchup in the brand-new Intuit Dome against the Brooklyn Nets on October 8 up next. The Warriors will be back in action on October 9 when they visit another Pacific Division foe in the Sacramento Kings. 

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL LASQUERO & KU’ULEI AGBAYANI