Legendary high school basketball coach Felipe Candaso did what no man has done on Guam when he led the 1993 Oceanview Knights to the Division I Far East Boys Basketball Tournament championship.
Thirty years later, he’s on a different type of sideline, battling pancreatic cancer at the age of 70.
His former Knights players are now rounding up prayer warriors and supporters to assist their beloved coach as best they can. Candaso departed for Manila on Thursday to start his cancer treatment.
“The great news is that they caught the cancer early, but he has only 60 days to live if he doesn’t get the surgery ASAP,” said former Knights star Rachelle Camacho, who started a GoFundMe account to assist with the high medical expenses. “
GoFundMe Set Up
Camacho has set up a fundraising account in hopes of raising up to $60,000 to assist in Candaso’s expenses.
If you wish to help out, you can go to the link here.
1993: Historic Run
The 1993 Oceanview team has gone down as arguably the best high school squad backed by Candaso’s relentless defense that suffocated the competition. The Knights completed an undefeated championship season on Guam before taking it to the Far East to make history.
A few years back, some of the players of the 1993 Oceanview team had a reunion with Coach Candaso. Standing L-R: Bic Lagutang, Ron Taitague and Mike Rabago. Seated L-R: Lloyd Lagutang, Coach Felipe Candaso and Cy Concepcion. (courtesy photo)