Aloha game for Sellitto as HPU meets BYUH

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i Pacific coach Tony Sellitto will make his final home appearance tonight at Blaisdell Arena. "It's been, without a doubt, the most fun I've had," said Sellitto, who is retiring after 14 years at HPU. Advertiser library photo • July 17, 2001

"Not worry about next season, that's for sure," he said with a laugh.

Sellitto will be retiring after this season, his 14th at HPU. Tonight's game against conference rival Brigham Young University-Hawai'i will be his last at the Blaisdell Arena.

"A lot of people want me (to be emotional)," Sellitto said, "but I've been a coach for a long time. It's been, without a doubt, the most fun I've had. It's not even like a job. I've been very blessed. You can't ask for more than that."

A coach to the very end, Sellitto is more interested in what this game means for the team.

Ranked first in the Pacific West Conference standings with an 8-4 record (17-7 overall), the Sea Warriors need to win two of their last three games in order to have a shot at the conference title and an automatic berth in the Division II Regionals. That's assuming Montana State-Billings (19-6, 9-5) will beat Western New Mexico (2-20, 0-14) at home.

And home games will make a difference in the last leg of the conference schedule.

Excluding Western New Mexico, PacWest teams are 28-3 at home. HPU needs to win at least one against Hawai'i-Hilo (17-8, 7-6) at Hilo to get the automatic berth. That won't be easy.

"Home court has been a big advantage in this conference," Sellitto said. "And hopefully that will help us (tonight)."

BYUH will also be motivated. The Seasiders (16-9, 7-5) have to win tonight to have any chance — slim as it may be — to win the conference and participate in the regionals. (It is unlikely the conference will get any at-large bids.)

"Their backs will be up against the wall," Sellitto said. "But we're in first place. It's our advantage, it's ours to lose. We don't care about New Mexico, about Montana, about Chaminade. If we win, we win. That's how we have to approach it."

Sellitto has always approached basketball — and life — that way. Game by game, day by day.

He survived prostate cancer and a stroke, changing his lifestyle, always adapting.

"He's such a tough guy, to see him overcome what he did, the way he handles himself now, the way he's changed," said former HPU sports information director Trey Garman. "He leads by example."

Same in basketball.

Sellitto has the most victories of any small college coach in Hawai'i history, with 11 of his 13 teams finishing with winning records (including eight 20-win seasons). His teams have qualified for postseason national tournaments eight times.

And this year's team has also achieved.

"We're playing for first place, which is, in itself, a big thrill, I don't care who you are," Sellitto said. "To know that you can actually go out there and make all your shots, be a star, score 30 points, to turn the whole season around in just three games, there's not many sports you can do that. That opportunity is not afforded to a lot of people. What more could you ask for?"