ISLE FILE
Irons ties for fifth in South Africa
Advertiser Staff
Kaua'i's Andy Irons tied for fifth place at the Billabong Pro J-Bay men's surfing contest yesterday.
Irons won his fourth-round heat in the morning, then lost in the quarterfinals to Australia's Taj Burrow, 13.57-8.47.
Florida's Kelly Slater won the contest to move another step closer to an unprecedented ninth world championship.
The final day of the five-day contest was run in 4- to 6-foot waves at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.
Slater beat reigning world champion Mick Fanning of Australia in the final for his 38th career world tour victory.
The Billabong Pro is the fifth of 11 stops on the 2008 World Championship Tour. Slater has won four of the first five events this year, and holds a commanding lead in the overall ratings.
"I didn't realize I was going to be overwhelmed by it, but I haven't been in this position before, at this point of the year, with this many wins," Slater said. "There are great things going on in my life so I'm just trying to soak it up and be appreciative."
Through the first five events of the year, Slater has 5,210 points. Australia's Joel Parkinson is No. 2 with 3,948.
"I'd like to think I have it the bag but I have to be realistic, it's early on — we're not quite half way yet," Slater said. "We have 11 events this year and this is number five. Last year at this point I was looking at Mick (Fanning) that way."
Slater, 36, already owns a record eight world championships.
Irons is currently ranked No. 8. Among the other Hawai'i surfers, Roy Powers is No. 16, Bruce Irons is No. 19, Fred Patacchia Jr. is No. 22, and Pancho Sullivan is No. 38.
BASKETBALL
LOJESKI PLAYS, LOW SITS OUT IN LAS VEGAS
Former University of Hawai'i guard Matt Lojeski had three points and two rebounds as his Milwaukee Bucks turned back the Denver Nuggets, 79-67, yesterday in an NBA summer league game in Las Vegas.
Lojeski played 6 minutes, 49 seconds for the Bucks, who have two more games to play.
Also, former 'Iolani School and Washington State guard Derrick Low did not play as his Dallas Mavericks completed their summer league play with a 79-73 victory over Detroit.
