"We're the type of team that can win without me. It's a moral victory for us today," the talented leftie said after the Hawks won 80-71.
In doing so, the Hawks claimed the bragging rights to the minor premiership for the first time in the history of the Bartercard National Basketball League.
Manawatu also rested just-arrived import point guard Chris Hagan because of a "sore leg" but injected Marcel Jones, who is hoping New Zealand Immigration will grant him a citizenship before the play-offs.
Yet again this season, the Paul Henare-coached Hawks toyed with the Manawatu Jets like a moggie pawing a spent mouse.
But Henare said winning the minor premiership would equate to zilch if his men don't take turns to cut the net around the hoop when the dust settles in Wellington this weekend.
"It was historic and, as corny as it sounds, it's more importantly a goal achieved for us.
"We set ourselves some goals a few weeks ago and one of them was to win the minor premiership.
"To be able to achieve that and to be part of a team that has done that for the first time for the Hawke's Bay basketball team is pretty special."
Henare said any other day what would matter is the number of times the NBL trophy finds its pride of place in the cabinet of the Hawks franchise.
"Minor premiership is great but it doesn't give us the championship."
It didn't escape Henare's attention that Weisenberg has had four US imports this season and he has rotated them to suit his needs as well as keep the oppositions guessing.
"It's a bit of a lottery when it comes to playing against the Jets.
"You know they have their reasons but we'll focus on ourselves."
For the most part yesterday it pleased the 2010-11 New Zealand Breakers title-winning captain. The Hawks crashed the boards hard and responded to a bit of adversity when the Jets lifted their intensity.
"They hit us in the second half and we took a while to respond but we did well."
The top-qualifying Hawks play defending champions Wellington Saints in their semifinal while the second-placed Auckland Pirates will lock horns with the Jets.
The Hawks overwhelmed the Saints in Napier but found themselves on the receiving end of a double header along Lambton Quay.
Henare felt the Hawks faced a tough battle against the Saints on their home turf.
"The schedule works in their favour because they get to play in front of their home fans but it's a good test for us.
"If we want to have a chance at winning the home championship we'll have to beat a very good team that's playing on their home floor."
While the Hawks had spoken about playing without inspirational skipper Winitana should they make it to the grand final on Sunday, Henare emphasised they were cautious not to get too far ahead of themselves.
"We have to win the semifinal first before we even think about winning a championship," he said as the Hawks attempt to secure their second title after the maiden one under former coach Shawn Dennis in 2006.
Yesterday the hosts were stunned into a 29-19 deficit in the first quarter and looked just as much out at sea in the second spell, trailing 45-31 (16-12 to the Hawks).
Former Tall Black Jarrod Kenny and bench point guard Aidan Daly provided the impetus on the court as Everard Bartlett ran amok with the ball.
It wasn't until the third quarter that the Ryan Weisenberg-coached Jets started to gnaw away at the lead.
With 7.50 minutes remaining on the clock, Jones dropped a basket from deep outside the arc to close the gap to a point (58-57) and send the parochial home crowd into a frenzy.
Forward Nick Horvath also dropped timely bombs but the Hawks, especially with power forward Galen Young's guidance, absorbed the pressure to claim victory.
Daly and young forward Morgan Natanahira filled the positions well in Winitana's absence.
Henare also lauded bench player Damion Davies and rookie guard Alonzo Burton for picking up the slack with aplomb.
While there was nothing the Hawks could do about another Sunday grand final that would negate the input of marquee player and former Tall Black small forward Winitana, Henare said they would again try to address it with the NBL board after this championship.
"It's obviously something I don't agree with," he said.
Henare said that playing any game without one of the longest-serving basketballers in the country would be an injustice and tantamount to short-changing spectators.
"He's going to be punished for his religious beliefs and I think basketball is behind the times a little.
"You know Michael Jones used to do it for the All Blacks and the All Blacks decided it probably wasn't the best thing to schedule games on Sundays."
While it affected Winitana and a few other NBL players of the Mormon faith, he thought the NBL and basketball in general in New Zealand needed to take a hard look at themselves to accommodate the players.
Sky TV, who haven't covered NBL matches religiously, dictate terms on what time the grand final should be played.
