KANE'OHE — The Hilo High School boys basketball team displayed some of its trademark uptempo, full-court style in an 85-42 loss to Kalaheo last night, but to longtime O'ahu fans, something might have seemed missing as soon as the Vikings stepped onto the floor at King Armory for the opening round of the Second Annual Merv Lopes Holiday Classic.

Larry Manliguis, Hilo's head coach since 1985, is sitting out this season due to health reasons. He had been the dean of Hawai'i high school coaches, with 'Iolani's Mark Mugiishi (19th season) now believed to have taken over that role.

"He's an icon," said Wayne Kaneshiro, Manliguis' longtime assistant who is serving as interim coach. "He's been the one constant in our program, so it's huge shoes to fill."

Manlinguis guided the Vikings to state championships in 1991 and 2000, and to a runner-up finish in 1992. Hilo has been the only Neighbor Island team to reach those heights in the past 22 years.

"Every time you played a Larry Manliguis team, you had better be ready to get up and down the floor," said Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado, who has been a Mustangs assistant or head coach since 1991. "His teams set the bar for Neighbor Island teams coming to O'ahu and competing for a state championship. You always had to keep an eye on Hilo."

As much as for his teams' fast-paced, exciting style, Manliguis was respected statewide for his humble and warm personality.

"In 22 years, I've never seen him treat anybody mean," Kaneshiro said. "He was always considerate of the other guy, making sure others were taken care of before himself. To me, that's his biggest attribute — how he treated people."

Kamehameha-Hawai'i coach Nelson Wong said Manliguis' absence already is noticeable. Manliguis guided the Vikings to 11 Big Island Interscholastic Federation titles.

"They've struggled the last few years, but like I tell people, he has two things nobody else on our island has, and that's state championships," Wong said. "He's one guy who always stayed true to his basketball philosophy, and the kids like playing that way. Plus, he's a real low-key guy. I miss seeing him on the sidelines."

Furtado said he also noticed Manliguis' absence.

"He's a good man," Furtado said. "Our prayers go out to him and his family."

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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