Ex-NMI coach Aguon enjoys view from stands

A familiar face in the CNMI basketball community was seen at the stands watching the daily games of the 2015 Micronesian Basketball Tournament U15 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Palau coach Logan Ngiriou, front center, and assistant Anthony Rudimich, front left, guided the team to a third place finish in the 2015 Micronesian Basketball Tournament U15. Palau defeated the Marianas Alu’u, 108-60, in the consolation mach.
(Jon Perez)

Former CNMI men’s national basketball team coach Rufino Aguon, who relocated to Palau a few years ago, accompanied the island nation’s Under-15 squad that competed in the regional competition for players in the western division.

Aguon said it is nice to be back on Saipan, which has been his home for a long time. He has been managing their family’s parasailing business back in Palau.

“Nice to see old friends in the basketball community here on Saipan. If I’m not that too busy, I also try to squeeze in playing basketball sometimes back in Palau,” said Aguon in an interview during the halftime break of Palau’s game against eventual champion Guam last week.

“Guam has a good basketball program and they have the population to support the program. They have been defending well and able to read their opponent’s defense too. They have crisp passing on their fastbreak plays,” Aguon said on Guam.

The FIBA-Oceania accredited coach also helps in Palau’s basketball development but he let’s the younger generation of bench tacticians call the shots.

“Your knowledge in basketball should be shared. James Naismith, who invented basketball shared his knowledge and I’m always willing to share what I know,” said Aguon.

“I just came here to observe. I rather let them do their thing and I told the new breed of coaches in Palau that they can always talk to me if they need help. Once in a while coaches and sometimes players talk to me and ask for my advice.”

Palau U15 coach Logan Ngiriou and assistant Anthony Rudimich, who are both products of their country’s U17 youth program, are some of the young coaches that have been helping develop the kids.

“Coaching is hard and I admire coach Logan and Anthony for their dedication and hard work. They have a long-term goal for the youth program,” said Aguon.

“All the plays are the same the only difference is how you execute those plays inside the court, how you read your opponent’s defense and make the adjustment,” he added.

He said that Team Palau sent a young team in the U15 tournament is composed mostly of 12-year-olds.

The team seemed to have enjoyed every bit of their stay here on Saipan and it was evident in last Saturday’s banquet where they were seen playing around and swimming at the waters near the Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel.

“They are a young team but are willing to learn. I commend these boys for always playing hard and not giving up,” added Aguon.

Palau placed third after the weeklong tournament after cruising to a 108-60 drubbing of host team’s Marianas Alu’u in the consolation game. The team finished with a 2-2 record after the single elimination round.

Aguon said that teams in the Micronesian region could have played a lot of tune-up matches and joined various tournaments if not for the distance of each island nation.

“Distance and traveling from each country has always been a problem. Micronesia is separated by water. Airfare is not cheap,” added Aguon, who was one of the coaches that helped mold rising Philippine Basketball Association rookie Jericho Cruz.

“The coaches are only there to help guide and motivate the players. It is up to the player to take it to the next level. And that’s what Jericho did, he worked hard and took it to the next level.”