Contrary to belief, the FIBA Basketball World Cup is not the only significant moment that the Philippines is set to experience this year.
Aside from hosting the biggest basketball showcase for the first time in 45 years, there are some golden feats that this hoop-crazy country should celebrate this year.
For one, the country will be celebrating the enshrinement of the legendary Carlos Loyzaga into the latest FIBA Hall of Fame.
Branded as the “Big Difference” for his impact on and off the court, Loyzaga will enter the Hall together with Yao Ming, the pillar of Chinese basketball who made his presence felt in the National Basketball Association.
Aside from Loyzaga’s enshrinement, members of the 1973 Philippine team will also be celebrating the golden anniversary of their victory in the Asian Basketball Confederation.
Composing the team are William “Bogs” Adornado, Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Jimmy Mariano, Yoyong Martirez, Manny Paner, Dave Regullano, Joy Cleofas and the late Big Boy Reynoso and Tembong Melencio.
What made the victory very special was the fact that it was the first Filipino squad to win a medal in the ABC, which is now known as FIBA Asia.
Their conquest in the Asian tourney also served as their meal ticket to the 1974 World Basketball Championship held in Puerto Rico.
Also making an impact on the world stage is the national squad that saw action in the FIBA World Championship in 1978.
Headed by future Philippine Basketball Association players like Steve Watson, Joy Carpio, Mon Cruz, Padim Israel, Pol Herrera and Bokyo Lauchengco, the squad made it to the World Championship by default for hosting the prestigious tourney.
Still, it didn’t take away the fact that the national squad played hard and is now celebrating its 45th anniversary.
And then, of course, the Gilas Pilipinas team that clinched the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championship will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
By beating bitter rival South Korea in an emotional semifinal encounter before a packed crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Filipinos advanced to the 2014 FIBA World Cup for the first time in 45 years.
The team was coached by Chot Reyes and was composed of skipper Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Larry Fonacier, Gary David, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, LA Tenorio and Marcus Douthit.
On Monday, Daily Tribune’s Down To The Wire will bring in some of the key figures of these Philippine squads to recall their milestone moments.
The World Cup fever is in the air and while Gilas Pilipinas is busy preparing in Europe, we also take the opportunity to look back at some of these Philippine squads who made the country proud in the international arena.
