Elias, Ol’Aces give trophy to Guam

In a grittier performance than the one they did less than 24 hours ago, Ol’Aces and their head coach Elias Rangamar handed the 3rd Annual Pacific Rim Youth Goodwill Tournament 18-and-under basketball championship trophy to runner-up Guam during the awards banquet held Saturday evening at Aqua Resort Club.

A few moments after Ol’Aces were awarded their championship medals, the players went back up the stage accompanied by their head coach.

Fighting off tears, the many-time CNMI national player explained that he and his wards were making the gesture in a sign of goodwill. Rangamar said Ol’Aces didn’t want Guam’s protest to give PACRIM a black eye and that was the reason they were making the sacrifice.

Many in attendance didn’t agree with Rangamar’s decision but nonetheless supported the coach.

Saipan Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero was especially emotional as he broke down while sitting at the Ol’Aces’ table and commending them for their selfless act.

“They are the real champions. Everyone who watched the game knows, everybody here knows, and all of Saipan knows that they won the championship,” said Guerrero in between sobs.

Jeremy Winkfield, who starred in Ol’Aces’ 60-56 victory Friday night, said he felt sad that they were giving back the medals and the trophy but said that if that was the price to pay to take the higher ground, then so be it.

Paul Magcalas, who broke the backs of SYBA with heady plays in crunch time, and defensive whiz Jeff Deleon Guerrero said they know in their hearts that they are the champions and they didn’t need any trophy or medals to tell them that.

Players Dan Barcinas, Steven Kim, Luis Iguel, and assistant coach Dexter Dillay also told Saipan Tribune after the banquet that Rangamar should be commended for his sportsmanship and heart, as it was not easy for the “boys” to give something up that they really worked hard for.

Former Basketball Association Northern Mariana Islands president Abner Venus said he thought Rangamar was joking when he told him he was giving up the trophy to Guam.

Venus, who works at Microl, the main sponsor of Ol’Aces, said he initially disagreed with Rangamar’s decision but after a while understood that Ol’Aces had to give out a strong message to Guam.

Sparks head coach George Cruz, for his part, said Rangamar and Ol’Aces showed a lot of class in giving up the medals and trophy for the sake of goodwill.

SYBA coordinator Darrel Dela Paz and SYBA 14-and-under coach Kevin Sanchez arrived at the banquet as the ceremony was winding down. Dela Paz said he had no comment aside from that he was supporting his coach. Sanchez, meanwhile, called for a better system in place for PACRIM in the future to help avoid similar situations.

Guam’s 18-and-under coach Ray Aguon and his players left immediately after Ol’Aces gave them the medals and Saipan Tribune wasn’t able to get any comments from them.

Commissioner Gabriel White said Aguon met with him and officials of PACRIM Saturday morning to file a formal complaint. In the written protest, White said Guam complained about a plethora of things ranging from same-colored jerseys in the championship game, to unfair officiating, to a grinding playoff schedule Friday.