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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 21, 2010

Waialua’s Galapia and Rosa blended skills to perfection


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Waialua forward Branden Galapia and defender Kamalei Rosa repeated as O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Players of the Year after the Bulldogs captured the White West Division for a second straight year.

Galapia and Rosa combined to create the perfect complement for the Bulldogs, the only White Division team to go undefeated (7-0-3) in the regular season.

Up top, the crafty Galapia led the Bulldogs in scoring with eight goals, while in the back, Rosa provided the leadership and helped to hold opponents to five goals in 10 games.

Of Galapia, McKinley coach John Mai said: "He's a good scorer ... he just had a knack for the goal."

Rosa, Mai added, "is a good defender, and he pretty much held their team together.

"His dad (John) is a coach and his brother (Kainoa) last year was the leader of the team, and I think it just went down to (Kamalei). He had good leadership skills."

The forwards named to the first team along with Galapia are Kailua's Brandon Taoy, who scored seven goals, and Waipahu's Vinson Nana, who scored two.

The first-team midfielders are McKinley's Ryan Min and Waipahu's Mikel Garduque, who each tied for the league lead with eight goals, Kailua's Jesus Gallardo and Radford's Luther Dumalao.

Along with Rosa, defenders on the first team are McKinley's Dominic Koo, Kailua's Trey Tam and Kaimukī's Scott Nguyen.

Radford's goalkeeper Ryan Barrett completes the first team after leading a defense that allowed a division-low four goals.

Galapia, Rosa, Nana, and Gallardo are repeat first-team selections.

Mai was selected as the Coach of the Year after the Tigers (7-2-1) won the White East Division.

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