PUHI — A local racquetball player got some lessons from a pro player and national team coach.
Robbie Collins, 27, a native of Makakilo, Oahu, came down to Kauai on Thursday to give some personal instruction to player and instructor Philip Eliana.
“What’s happened was that I’ve been set in my own ways. In order to get good and progress, he pretty much told me I got to get away from the traditional way of doing things. Everything is different now,” Eliana said during a training session in Puhi.
Collins is also an assistant coach for US Junior National Racquetball Team. He resides in San Jose, Calif.
“I’ve known Phil since I was a kid. He’s one of the guys who ran a great tournament here on Kauai. I never got to attend, but he always supported me,” Collins said. “At national tournaments, he’d come watch and support. Here I am today. Now, I get to return the favor a little bit. I get to come over and help him with his game now.”
He added: “I was home for the summer, and I had the time. I don’t always have the time to be home in general, let alone to be able to do something cool like this, like fly over for the day and help him.”
On Thursday morning, Eliana and Collins had a training session at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana. In the afternoon, they had another session in Puhi.
Eliana’s grandchildren also had a chance to learn a few things from Collins.
“I’m grateful that I have people that actually listen to what I have to say,” Collins said. “I’m only 27. I realize I’m a young guy. I’m not like an old wise master kind of guy, but I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of pro experience at this age and I’ve had a lot of coaching experience. Through the Junior program, I was able to refine my craft that way.”
Eliana, 58, of Hanamaulu, has competed at the USA Racquetball National Championships for about a decade. Most recently, he placed fourth in the Men’s Heroes 50-plus division at nationals last month in Pleasanton, Calif.
“This last nationals was an eye-opener. Even though I came in fourth in the nation, it was hard,” Eliana said. “Usually, they put in the 50-55s, but they put in the 40s and 45s (in my age division). I felt like a pin cushion in there. The ball (speed) has increased dramatically. I’m not really a power player, but I need to add that to my repertoire.”
Eliana will next compete at the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah in October. With the new techniques he’s learned from Collins, Eliana believes he’s better prepared.
“I needed to be re-inspired, should I say. When you’re on an island … it’s hard to stay inspired,” he said. “I got a great family. My wife always supports me, but I needed more of a thing. This morning, he taught me a lot of things. I can honestly say, in my time and experience, a lot of times you got to unlearn things to learnt things. I don’t have unlearn it. I just have to redefine it.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
