Kenji Kanai case file/ Steve Weigh

The Japanese government is turning a very interested eye on the homicide of Filipino-Japanese basketball player Kenji Kanai, who was killed in a vehicular accident on July 16.

In an e-mail to The Star from Japan, Seiji Kanai, the 16-year old victim’s father revealed that officials of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice have asked for a complete documentation of the case.

On the morning of July 16, Kenji Kanai was alighting from a friend’s vehicle at the jeepney stop beside the pedestrian overpass along Katipunan Avenue in front ot the Ateneo de Manil campus. As he was getting out of the car, a white Toyota Corolla rammed into them at full speed. Seriously injured, Kanai was pinned between the door and the chassis, and bled to death. The cause of death was found to be trauma to the head and neck. It appears that the force of the impact spun the other car around until Kanai’s upper body smashed into the windshield of the Corolla driven by Timothy Abejuela, which had a huge crack on the passenger side.

"I have been very much proud of my son for a long time," the elder Kanai told The Star. "It is the greatest loss of him to me. When I was to know of his passing away, I felt it hardest to be alive without him for the rest of my life. Then, the more people I would see and get acquainted with, more survival energy I could be given."

Befoire he left for Japan, Kanai and his wife, Susan, were interviewed by ABS-CBN, GMA, and major dailies in the Philippines (including The Star). He also spent an afternoon being interviewed by various Japanese media, including the huge Asahi Shimbun and NHK Television, which also visited the Benedictine International School where Kenji played.

Kanai has also met with officials of Fuji TV in Japan, as well as a handful of politicians, who are keenly interested to show support. The arraignment is set for August 3 at Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 225.

* * *

Who is Steve Weigh?

Filipino fans who have been following the Jones Cup in Taiwan have been wondering who the teen-ager was who put the Philippine team away with a three-pointer late in their game against the Australian Institute of Sport.

The 6-7, 18-year old native of Queensland has been averaging double figures for AIS in the Jones Cup, and led the team in scoring in a victory over India and losses against Russia-Samara and Taiwan before erupting for 32 points against Japan.

This writer interviewed Weigh briefly at the adidas Superstar Camp at the Shanghai Institute of Physical Education two months ago. Of the 56 participants, 50 were Chinese. Twenty-nine of the participants — all aged 18 and below — were 6-7 and above, with two seven-footers. Weigh, considered the best high school player in Australia, was one of two Aussies in the camp (with Jared Scoines), along with Filipinos Tommy Babilonia and Migs Maniego.

The campers were divided into six teams, and played a round-robin tournament. Complementing his Chinese teammates, Weigh led Team Duncan to an undefeated 6-0 record in the camp. Weigh and Scoines were picked to be on the two 10-man All-Star teams which were picked to play at the end of the camp. The top 10 players would receive adidas All-Star uniforms and would be sent to the adidas Superstar Camp in Atlanta, Georgia, which was held in mid-July. Weigh, three-point champion Scoines and Shanghai native and all-star game Most Valuable Player Xu Yong were all selected.

Weigh and Xu led their respective teams in scoring. Weigh scored 21 points in a losing cause, including three of four from three-point range in only 15 minutes of action. He also finished runner-up to Xu in the slam dunk contest, judged by six-time NBA Most Valuable Player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 2005 Slam Dunk champion Josh Smith, 2000 Slam Dunk champion Desmond Mason and retired NBA All-Star Detlef Schrempf. Weigh lost a good-natured one-on-one match with Mason the day before, 5 to 4.

"I can’t wait to get a burger," Weigh told this writer in a heavy accent after a week of eating Chinese food during group meals and rushing to the nearby Pizza Hut during their free time. He joked that he and Scoines had lost a few pounds adjusting to the new diet, and were wary of eating too much even at the farewell dinner at a local Thai restaurant.

The AIS forward also concurred with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Mason that once younger Chinese players improve their athleticism, they will be very difficult to stop.

"I was surprised at how big the players were, but we sort of knew we had to hold our own against them," Weigh added.

More than that, Steve Weigh served notice that he will be a major player in the near future, like his countryman and top NBA Draft pick Andrew Bogut.

* * *

Catch The Basketball Show on its new timeslot tonight and every Monday at 8:30 p.m. over IBC-13.