For 11 years, Allan Silva‘s message of positivity was a given for the Farrington boys basketball program.
For the past two seasons, the former Chaminade hoopster was back at his stomping grounds, McCabe Gym. The Saint Louis Crusaders looked to Silva for an edge in the ruthlessly difficult Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
After two seasons at Saint Louis, Silva has stepped down.
“I decided to resign last Friday to pursue other opportunities,” Silva said. “There’s some other things I’m doing in my life right now. I’m doing a lot of motivational workshops and a lot of things are being offered to me, so I’ll take a break from coaching right now. It was a tough decision. I stayed up late this week making this decision. It was easy and it was hard.”
Silva is optimistic about the team’s returnees.
“It’s a good situation. They know the system and they have a chance to compete for the ILH championship this year, but next year if they keep maturing and improving, they can win the state,” Silva said. “We’ve got some real good ones. Noa Purcell is coming back. Laclen Hanneman has a lot of potential. Keawe Silva is really, really improved a bunch since he came in from Hilo, been in the weight room training. Chris Sykes will be back once his collarbone heals. And Josh White is another one who can bang inside and he is a basketball player.”
Silva encouraged his assistant coaches to apply for the position.
“Kalani Silva runs our (offseason) club ball team,” Silva said of one of his assistants, who is the father of Keawe Silva. “It would be a good position for someone to step in to.”
Saint Louis fell short of the state tournament in both of his seasons, though an opening-round playoff win at Maryknoll was a signature win.
The young Crusaders went 1-9 in regular season play before upsetting Maryknoll. They lost to eventual league champion ‘Iolani in the playoff semifinals. In two years, Silva’s teams at Saint Louis were 9-16 in ILH play and 32-24 overall. With Punahou loaded, Kamehameha and Maryknoll returning several key players, ‘Iolani reloading and Mid-Pacific rising, battles in Division I of the ILH figure to be as difficult as ever. Saint Louis’ returning talent, though, will make this a league with great parity.
Silva added that the Crusaders’ preseason schedule is already set, 17 games that include five tournaments, including a trip to Lahainaluna’s post-Christmas tourney.
With homegrown talent and an influx of talented transfers, Silva’s last few seasons at Farrington had the Govs at a peak. The Governors reached the D-I state final in 2014, losing to ‘Iolani 43-40.
Farrington also won the D-II state title in ’07, outlasting Aiea 70-68.
Alan Silva. Is a outstanding, veteran basketball COACH. More importantly he is great mentor a positive role model and a coach who has his priorities in order. Good luck Alan, look forward to learning of the nect step in your career. Coach T
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