Soldiers have memorable time in brief return

Sgt. John Santos and Spc. Peter Camacho spent the past two weeks on home soil, and before returning to complete their ongoing mission in Iraq last Saturday, expressed that every single moment during their brief stay was well savored.

Prior to their departure in the summer of 2004, the Echo Company soldiers were two big pieces of a Toyota team that had won the past two championship crowns of the Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League.

During their visit, both managed to return to the welcoming arms of their teammates on the hardcourt, with Santos suiting up in three bouts and Camacho seeing action in two games.

“It feels really great,” Tinian resident Santos said shortly after Bud Light-Toyota’s game Friday night against the Bud Ice-Hoopaholics at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. “I felt a little rusty in these games. I had some wind but I didn’t have any legs. Hopefully when I get back, I’ll get my legs back and be different again.”

Camacho echoed similar sentiments, citing that although he knew he was not going to be able to perform the way he did before leaving, he understood his role and was simply looking forward to rejoining the squad.

“I was just excited because it’s my first time to play in 10 months,” he said. “I wasn’t in top basketball shape, so I just tried to play and go back to basics. I didn’t expect to come back and play the way I used to play before I left. That’s not me. I knew I have to start from the bottom again and work my way up. I knew I wasn’t going to be a starter, but I support the guys and came off the bench.”

Camacho said he contacted team playing-coach Elias Rangamar earlier and advised him that he was returning for the short visit.

“Before I came here, I knew there was a league going on so I called Elias to put me on the roster and leave uniforms for me and John, and that’s what he did, so we were already looking forward to it,” he said.

Both cagers agreed that their relationship with their teammates is strong and wanted to play side by side with them again.

“We don’t play, but we talk about basketball in Iraq, so this feels good,” Camacho said. “I miss doing this with the boys.”

Basketball, however, was the last thing on their minds as both Santos and Camacho were focused on “family first.”

“I definitely missed home,” Santos said. “I missed my kids and my wife…I missed everybody. We really have to enjoy life, especially with the job I’m in, but we’re helping out the Iraqi people. It’s going well and we just got to do a little more work.”

“We thought of home, family, and the game and we talk about basketball, but when it comes to it, family first, then basketball,” Camacho said.

Santos added that the action they saw on the court helped keep them in the physical shape they need to be when they returned to Iraq.

“I was looking for something to stay in shape because it’s a lot of work there [Iraq],” he said. “We do some exercise there and I’m heading back so I just wanted to stay in shape. I want to be in high mode when I get back and ready for whatever the company needs. It’s good to be back home, and we’re heading back for our last quarter and hopefully everything goes well and everybody comes home safe.”

After dropping their season opener, Toyota has won six straight.

“The team…we’re clicking in all gears,” Santos said. “We’ll be alright. We’ve been playing together for a while and it’s tough when somebody is trying to knock you off the top.”