node selected in n-level tree

[Edwin Mercado]

Hi,
I'm using the tree2 component, and the tree can has n-levels
(child->parent->grandparent->...).
How can I detected the selected node without using the t.setNodeSelected?
The reason
I can't use the t.setNodeSelected is because I am using my own backing
method to do some other stuff
when a node has been clicked/selected. When I had a 2-level tree, I was able
to do something like this:

  UIComponent parent =
component.getParent().getParent().getParent().getParent();

  HtmlTree tree = (HtmlTree) parent;
  TreeNode node = tree.getNode();

but now with an n-level tree, it's a little bit different. Does anybody have
a clever way of figuring out the
selected node?
I think the following code might work but it doesn't seem
"performance-friendly":

UIComponent component;
while (component instanceof HtmlTree)
        component = component.getParent();

TreeNode node = tree.getNode();

(I haven't tried it out yet)
Edwin