New Laker head coach Luke Walton proved over the Labor Day weekend that he can still play and bring home a championship.
“After going to the finals six times, it’s good to finally win one,” Walton said after leading his team to victory in a close championship match at the 59th Annual 17th Street Labor Day Weekend Volleyball Tournament in Hermosa Beach.
Walton has played regularly in local beach volleyball tournaments, including the Charlie Saikley Six-Man and the Barry Bob Four Man, since being drafted by the Lakers in 2003 and moving to Manhattan Beach.
The four-man, 17th Street Labor Day Tournament teams are made up of A, B, C and D players. Most of the A’s are current or former professional volleyball players. The B’s and C’s and D’s are generally current or former high school or college players. Richard “RJ” Jeffers, who starred for the Cavalier’s in their NBA championship victory this year against the Warriors, where Walton was assistant coach, also competed in the past weekend’s 17th Street tournament. His team was eliminated in the third round.
Walton and teammates Andrew Igloi, Manny Contreras and Mike Houck defeated a team led by AVP player and former Redondo Union High and El Camino College outside hitter Landen Tusieseina. The tight game saw multiple lead changes, before ending 15 to 12. Tusia Cena’s teammates were Billy Del Riego, Carlos Mathosian, Joao Oliveira
The score was even closer in the semifinals when Walton’s team overcame an early deficit against a team lead by Cullen Irons, who like Walton, is 6-foot-8. Irons teammates were Al Gonzales, Clayton Parmalee and John Wallace.
Walton received the Lee Campbell MVP Cup, which is named after one of the tournament’s founders. The award was presented by Campbell’s grandson Will, a rising young beach volleyball player.
Proceeds from the tournament went to Kourtney Keller, 4, and her brother Russell, 2, the children of longtime 17th Street volleyball player Russ Keller. “Russ moved to Hermosa from Seattle in the early ‘90s, and broke into the local volleyball scene, which you all know isn’t easy to do. Russ had hoped to be here, today,” friend Ian Martin said before asking for a moment of silence in Keller’s memory prior to the start of the tournament. Keller passed away Tuesday from brain cancer. Contributions to his family may be made at https://www.gofundme.com/2md6hzm4.
