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December 3, 2009

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Sampson, Chaminade coach reunite at camp

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003 | 10:51 a.m.

Ralph Sampson and Merv Lopes, in the same gym? That's taking place this week, as both are counselors at the Pete Newell Big Man Camp at Cox Pavilion.

On Dec. 23, 1982, Lopes coached tiny Chaminade University, an NAIA school, to a 77-72 victory against then-top-ranked Virginia, and Sampson, at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.

Sampson, recovering from pneumonia, scored 12 points and had 17 rebounds. He lives in the Atlanta area and works with youngsters in his Winner's Circle organization. He has often bristled about that defeat.

"That's way in the past," Sampson said. "(Lopes and I) have a good relationship. We have a good time when we talk about it."

That victory helped Lopes earn the NAIA's coach-of-the-year award that season.

"I have to thank Ralph," said Lopes, laughing. "He made me famous. He doesn't really kid about it. He said the referees were in my pocket."

Sampson accepted an invitation to attend Chaminade's celebration of the 20th anniversary of that epic upset last fall, when the two teams met again in the Maui Invitational.

"He's a great guy," Lopes said. "To have Ralph involved in the Big Man Camp is awesome for me. He's a nice fella, and he can give a lot of things to these youngsters."

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