‘It was great to see’: Shaq shouts out UBC ahead of U Sports National Championship

UBC is set to host Canada's best college basketball players over the next four days for the U Sports national championship.

As the UBC men’s basketball team searches for its first national title in more than five decades, assistant coach Mike Hamilton used his connections for a special favour.

“Our assistant coach Doug was trying to put together this inspirational video, so I thought, it’d be cool to get Shaq,” said Hamilton, who’s also a filmmaker and has worked with Shaquille O’Neal’s production company in the past.

“I was just sitting on the couch at home one night and check my text and it’s like, ‘Oh, Shaq – video!’ and then the whole TNT crew was on there so it was awesome.”

The video, which has now gone viral, has Shaq wishing the Thunderbirds good luck and mimicking what a Thunderbird may sound like.

“I think it was spot on – exactly how a Thunderbird would sound,” said UBC guard Adam Olsen. “It was great to see.”

UBC is hosting both the men’s and women’s national tournaments, which start Thursday morning and conclude with the men’s and women’s championship finals on Sunday.

“We’re super excited about it,” said Kavie Toor, managing director of UBC Athletics and Recreation.

“We’re making history in this tournament being the first ever championship to host men’s and women’s together by one university. And we’re doing this with some intention. We want trailblaze a new path and create these wonderful experiences and hopefully something that will change the fate of national championships in Canada for the future.”

UBC is the only B.C. school represented in the eight-team women’s bracket.

“I’m so excited,” said Emily Martindale, a fifth-year guard playing in her first national tournament.

“I think it’s going to be incredible and I’m so thankful to be here.”

UBC women last captured a national title in 2008.

On the men’s side, UBC and the University of Victoria represent B.C. in the tournament, which is rarely hosted in Western Canada.

Despite more than a dozen appearances in the national tournament, UBC has not captured a men’s national basketball championship since the early 1970s.

“There’s no real pressure for us,” said Tobi Akinkunmi, fifth-year forward with the team.

“It’s just us staying together and keep doing what we’re doing and what’s got us success.”

The UVic Vikes men’s team was ranked number 1 in the country for much of the season, finishing a perfect 20-0 in the regular season. However, their leading scorer and last year’s national MVP Diego Maffia is out for the tournament with a knee injury.

“This is for Diego,” said fifth-year guard Aaron Tesfagiorgis.

“He was a large piece for us and for the last few years. And we really want to do this for him. And our excitement level is so ecstatic right now. We’re really looking forward to getting this win.”

UVic tips off the tournament Thursday at 11 a.m. at War Memorial Gym against Bishop’s University. The UBC men open their tournament Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre against the University of PEI.

The UBC women play before the UBC men at 6 p.m. against Saint Mary’s University.