Filipovich bids farewell

The decisions are coming fast and furious now.

Niko Filipovich, UH’s third-year sophomore guard, has decided to call it a hoops career. Filipovich told the Star-Advertiser today that he will transfer to a school to be determined back home around Los Angeles to finish off his undergraduate degree.

The former Bishop Montgomery High point guard affirmed that he’s ready to move on to the next phase of his life, post-basketball (at least as a player). He has talked over his decision with coach Eran Ganot, who supported him, Filipovich said.

The allure of the possibility of increased minutes next season with UH’s heavy losses at guard could not sway him to stay. For him, not much will top going out on the season he was just part of.

He is the third Rainbow Warrior to leave early, after Stefan Jankovic and Aaron Valdes, both of whom are turning pro.

Not knowing when, or if, his number would be called was never easy.

As a reserve behind Roderick Bobbitt and Quincy Smith in the UH backcourt, Filipovich’s playing time was sporadic, but he came up big in the Big West championship game against Long Beach State. He provided some key first-half minutes when Bobbitt was out with foul trouble, helping UH gain the lead. His buzzer-beating layup against his old high school teammate Justin Bibbins was a signature play during the team’s run to the postseason.

Earlier in the season, he scored eight points against Hawaii Hilo and seven against Cal Poly. For his career, he scored 44 points with 14 assists.

You can also thank him for helping make “Hawaii 5-O” what it was this season. He was a driving force behind many of the bench mob’s memorable antics.

Filipovich was one of the handful of ‘Bows who played for three different head coaches in three seasons, including for Gib Arnold during his redshirt season of 2013-14.

Filipovich sent the Star-Advertiser this message:

“I truly believe that God gives you what you can handle and that he puts certain people in certain situations in your life for a reason. The experiences that I have gone through with basketball have (led) me to create these unforgettable memories with people that are just flat out remarkable. One min (you’re) playing one on one with your dad out in front of your house to being a part of the NCAA tournament in front of the whole world with your brothers is something you only see in a movie. But sometimes in life the ball doesn’t bounce your way and adversity hits. No matter how much fight you have in you and how much desire you carry and it still won’t happen. All you can do is smile and say I still love you and think about how much joy and happiness it brought you and how truly blessed you are.

Mom…Dad…Tasha…Suzzy…Aunty Aneta…Grandma…Grandpa…Coach Diego… Thank you so much for being (there) for me when I’d come home in tears. Thank you for picking me back up after countless failures. Whenever I’d fall it was you guys who picked me back up.

To my brothers on the team.. We went to hell and back (laughs). … I hope you guys cherished those moments as much as I did. You guys hold a special place in my heart and keep workin. It’s only a matter of time before something like this past year happens again.

To the Hawaiian fans… Thank you so much!!! I know these past couple of years haven’t been easy but you supported all of us when nobody believed in us and that is the true meaning of a die hard fan and all you bleed is green and black. And always have faith in these Warriors because they are truly great people and players.

To future players… Realize when you step on the floor, you rep a state that has a lot of pride and history. Anything less than your best will not be tolerated and (they) call you out on it (laughs).

I’ll always be a warrior and that will never change.
Go Bows!

Mama… I’m comin home.”