COACH CANDASO SUCCUMBS TO CANCER

By Patrick Lujan

Four short months ago, basketball coach Felipe Candaso headed to the Philippines for cancer treatment, hoping to get another chance at life.

The unfortunate battle ended on Sunday as Coach Candaso passed away while in a Manila hospital.

Candaso was well known as a hard-nosed disciplinary as a coach and PE teacher at Oceanview High School and eventually Southern High School. He led a host of boys and girls basketball teams known for their relentless defense, full-court pressure, limitless conditioning and unselfish play.

The most memorable was guiding the uber-talented Oceanview Knights to an undefeated championship season and eventually the 1993 Far East Basketball Tournament championship for big schools, the only Guam team do so. (St. Paul has won a few Far East titles for small schools)

Candaso also had a stint as the men’s national basketball team head coach. He was 70.