The long and winding road back to the elusive Asian cage throne
by Andrew Punzalan
Article updated 19th of July 2006
The Philippines were once the basketball kings of Asia. They were merely invincible -
untouchable as one would say. The class that the past Philippine teams showed during
the Pre and Post-World War 2 era was simply at par with the world's best.
However, from the glory days came the horrors of Philippine basketball.
A great project was initiated to redeem good ground, but it was shortlived.
The goal of regaining the great Philippine dream was soon lost after the
NCC grassroots basketball program by no less than Coach Ron Jacobs -
spearheaded then by Mr. Danding Cojuangco under the Marcos regime was
left out in the bitter cold. The downfall of the Marcos Administration
also saw the NCC program crumbling down in the dust. It could have been
rebuilt but nobody cared - then the BAP era. The BAP program was meant to
represent the Philippines as a basketball darkhorse in asia but to no avail.
Since BAP stepped in the seen - the RP national teams seemed to be fed into
lion's den, though at times they have produced medals but only against obscure teams or
meager opposition. It looked like the BAP just wanted to represent the Philippines
for the sake of participation and not the worthy RP basketball team as a whole.
Enter the PBA. The PBA sports the finest Pro talent
in the realms of RP basketball - the best in Asia, yet the best they can
offer was a short stint to the Asian games. The ABC and the Olympic qualifying
tournaments were never represented by the PBA in the past. So to say, almost
every team sent to the international meets other than the Asian games were
complete humiliation to the RP NT reputation. Imagine underrated college
teams and ball clubs sent by BAP to represent the Philippine tri-colors against the best
of Asia. The PBA never promised to represent the Philippines in any competition
other than the Asian Games. Yet after lessons were learned in the most
unforgettable of all upsets in the Busan Asian Games, the PBA wants no less
than vindication - a stint in the ABC, Asian games and the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Here starts our story. Pilipinas was once the most decorated of all Asian nations
in the land of basketball. A mighty powerhouse in the Olympics and the World basketball.
Unfortunately, due to extremely growing strong opposition from Asia and lack of a solid
grassroots and training program, the Asian dark horse lost its' glory.
NCC tried to redeem it, nevertheless, it was only a short breather. Although there were many detractors
and skeptics of the NCC (due to the fact that it included Engelland and company), it's nature
and grassroots program had been utterly overlooked. For a national team to exceed expectations, a
solid and continuous program must be implemented. Unfortunately, such meticulous project was not
an option in Philippine sports after the Marcos era. After the NCC was dissolved,
BAP grabbed the spotlight - then it was nightmare. The PBA finally stepped in the scene -
but only in the Asiad. After this was the giant sokor letdown which saw the well-prepared
and equipped Centennial Dream Team fall into the lucky howitzer of Korea's Lee Sang Min.
Now we have a PBA powered Philippine Team bent on regaining lost glory -
not in the Asian scope - but the Olympics and World Basketball. Surely it was a
great day for all Filipinos - until BAP again ruined everything the PBA has prepared for.
FIBA suspended the Philippines because of the dispute
between the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee - the superior sports body) and the BAP, and directly shut down a shot by the RP
team for the Olympic dream. The conflict stemmed through the controversial loss
of the BAP-formed national team bound for SEABA led by Boysie Zamar to the infamous Paranaque team.
POC suspended BAP due to incompetency and stop it from further representing the country internationally
and bring more embarassment to our nation. The BAP however, shunned the directive of POC and remained hard-headed.
BAP could have stepped aside for the benefit of the whole nation, but pride and grip to power was too stiff a price to let go of.
The result, an indefinite FIBA suspension, thereby rendering any RP National Team unable to
represent the country in any FIBA-sanctioned competitions. FIBA could have just accepted POC's replacement
for BAP which were PBFI or Team Pilipinas (both of which are highly credible organizations as supported by
the major basketball stakeholders in the Philippines which include the UAAP, NCAA, PBL and PBA), but no
one from their ranks care to listen no less.
However, FIBA only wants BAP retained - nothing more, nothing less.
They only hear the cries of the BAP top honchos for sympathy which leads us to suspect, where do we find fairness here?
With the best talent around and the most well-prepared training
in the history of PBA this is the biggest disappointment for all the Filipino fans around the
world. We Filipinos cannot let this happen. Be the PBFI (the new formed basketball body) or Team Pilipinas
be approved or not, the BAP deserves to be suspended, not the PBA-RP team. The Philippine
PBA-RP Team is still at par with the best of Asia and it deserves to be included in the
international tournaments. In lieu to this, the Filipino fans around the world converge
and unite to support the campaign of the PBA-Philippines in regaining the lost glory of
the basketball dynamo of Asia.
RP Team in the International scene
The RP National Basketball teams won the ABC five times in 1960,1963,1967,1973 and 1986.
The Junior (Under-19) Philippine basketball team won the Asian Junior Championships six times.
The Philippines' has won the Asian Games Gold four times in 1951, 1954, 1958 and 1962 during the exploits of Carlos Loyzaga and company.
The best finish by a Philippine Team and any Asian Team in the World Championships is a
Bronze Medal in 1954. Up to this time, no Asian nation has ever surpass this until the present time. The Philippines has won the biennial Southeast Asian Games Gold Medal
10 times since 1977 except in 1989 and at the last SEA Games in Manila in 2005 in which FIBA suspended RP NT from further representing the country.
The recent best finish by a Philippine Team led by a PBA squad in the Asian Games is a Silver Medal in the
1990 Beijing Asian Games and a Bronze Medal finish in the 1998 Bangkok Asiad. The Philippine Junior
Men's Team last medal finish was with a bronze in the 1992 Asian Junior Men's Championships.
The Philippine (Under-22) National Men's Team's best finish was fourth in the 1993 (Under-22)
Asian Championships.
The PBA sends the best pro basketball squad during the Asian Games. One may call it synonymous to a dreamteam.
The PBA was only allowed to send teams internationally after 1990. Not all Philippine national basketball teams
are being represented by the elite professional ballers in the international games. BAP most of the times
sent out the worst if not the most underpowered and unheralded teams against the best in Asia. Not to point an accusing finger,
but it was the real scenario in Philippine basketball internationally until the BAP was condemned to be a
defunct organization after the infamous loss of a SEABA bound national squad to the Paranaque All-Stars team.
The PBA together with different NSAs including UAAP, NCAA and PBL should continue on
pressing for the immediate replacement of the BAP from FIBA for the good of the nation. Though at
present, RP is suspended by FIBA for the BAP-POC dispute, the newly formed PBF (Philippine
Basketball Federation) or the Team Pilinas organization should hopefully help bring back the lost glory of the RP Team.
FIBA Asia Champion's Cup
The ABC Champions Cup symbolizes the best club team in the Asian continent. It was known before as ABC Champion's Cup
until the name was changed to FIBA Asia Champion's Cup. The PBL, which represented the
Philippines in this tilt oftentimes, grabbed the championship crown four times. The FIBA ABC Champions Cup began in
1981 and was held every two years until the year 1995. Northern Consolidated, a PBA Guest Amateur Squad,
won in 1984; Swift-PABL won in 1988; Andok's-PBL won in 1995; and in 1996 the Cup was taken
by Hapee Toothpaste. One note of relevance here is that the Champion's Cup always include two import
reinforcements to beef-up teams and strengthen the competitions. However, in a show of power, the PBA in 2005 sent out an All-filipino
squad which could be classed as a "B Team" due to the fact that it didn't include the league's best during the competition.
Visibly absent in the RP line-up were "The Dynamite" Danny Seigle, "The Rock" Asi Taulava, Eric "The Major Pain" Menk and the amateur stand-out
Kelly Williams from Magnolia. However, even if this particular unit placed fifth during the end of the competitions, it cannot be denied
that all the national teams they fought brought in two import reinforcements. Another point that must not be neglected was that
the All-Filipino squad, in all their losses bowed down by only ten points or less. The outcome of the competition may had been different,
had the PBA NT trained longer and fielded it's best cagers.
The Philippine Basketball Association Dream Teams
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a professional basketball league in the Philippines
founded in 1975. It is the first and the oldest professional basketball league in Asia, and the
world's second oldest existing pro-basketball league after the United States' National Basketball
Association (NBA). The league's rules are a hybrid of those established by FIBA and the U.S.
National Basketball Association. It should be noted that the PBA holds the "Cream of Crop" pro
players of the Philippine basketball - therefore worthy to send a Dream Team in any international competition.
1990 ASIAN GAMES TEAM (Silver Medal - Second Place)
The best finish by a PBA-RP formed National Team in the Asian Games
The 1990 Asian Games team in Beijing, China was the first true national team composed of the PBA cagers.
It may have not been necessarily the best the PBA had then, but its' nucleus formed the kind of unit its'
coach Sonny "The Living Legend" Jaworski wanted it to be. Hard-nosed and determined.
It handily squashed teams like Pakistan, and North Korea which fielded the giant Ri in the preliminary round.
In the Second Round, the team had to overcome a competitive Japanese National Team. In the semis,
the Philippine Team had to meet the Japanese team again, coming from behind down as much as 17 points.
The final was against the Chinese resulting in a 74-90 loss. The significance of the score was that
it was closer than the 60-125 Second Round defeat to the Chinese. The squad was hastily formed and
should be commended for a tournament that they could have won, if it was given more time. The team
was led by Zaldy Realubit, Benjie "The Tower of Power" Paras, Alvin "The Captain" Patrimonio, Allan
"The Triggerman" Caidic, Ronnie Magsanoc and Ramon "El Presidente" Fernandez. The team was coached by no less than "The Living Legend" -
Robert Sonny Jaworski.
1994 ASIAN GAMES TEAM - 4th Place Finish
The 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games Team tried to solve the problem of an underprepared squad by giving the 1994
PBA All Filipino Champions, San Miguel Beer the task to win the elusive Asian Gold medal. San Miguel Beer
formed the nucleus of the team and was augmented with amateur standouts and players loaned from
Purefoods and Alaska Milk. The tournament showcased the coming of Johhny "The Flying A" Abarrientos
as the best playmaker in the country and one of the best guards in Asia. It also saw the debut of future PBA stars
Marlou "The Skyscraper" Aquino and Kenneth "Captain Marbel" Duremdes who were plucked from the amateur ranks of the PBL. The team, ably led by Coach
Norman Black, won their first three games in the preliminaries and had to play South Korea for first
in the Group. The Philippine Team led in the early minutes of the first half before succumbing to
fatigue in the Second Half losing to the Koreans 78-86. The team had to play China in the cross-over
semi-finals. The team had difficulties matching up with the taller Chinese and lost 74-85. The
Bronze Medal Game was a nightmare for Alvin Patrimonio. The team had the chance to tie the game
and send it to overtime. Down by two points Patrimonio had two free throws after a foul. He missed
the first shot and Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin failed in converting a desperation three at the buzzer.
The PBA vowed to prepare a cohesive and true national team for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
The team was led by Jerry "The Defense Minister" Codinera, Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic
(the leading scorer) and Johnny Abarrientos.
1998 ASIAN GAMES TEAM/CENTENNIAL TEAM - Bronze Medal Finish
The Centennial team's preparation saw them play their first game against the Chinese Nationals bannered
by no less than Bateer Mengke and Wang Zhizhi at the Araneta Coliseum losing 70-78. To be taken of
significance is that the Centennial Team lost in a close ball game against the Chinese wall losing measly by only eight points.
Tim Cone's squad went on to win the 21st Jones Cup impressively by beating
Chinese Taipei in the Final 82-72.
The Centennials went on a tough US NCAA Road Trip playing tough against Arkansas and Missouri-Rolla.
The team gained worldwide recognition when they figured in a bench clearing brawl against Minnesota.
In the Bangkok Asiad, the Nationals opened the Asian Games with a thrilling 53-52 victory over Kazakhstan and a demolition
job of Kyrgyzstan 91-50. The team has been ably led to the quarterfinal round by 1998 PBA MVP
"Captain Marbel" Kenneth Duremdes and the centers of the team specifically, Andy Seigle, "The Sky Scraper"
Marlou Aquino, and Edward Joseph Feihl. The frontline of the Centennials hold the key against the
expected quarterfinals group showdown versus J. Seo and the Koreans. The showdown with the Koreans
proved to be a blowout in favor of the Asian Champions. With the Filipino obsession of beating the
Chinese, the Nationals overlooked the speed and outside shooting of Kang and Moon and the strength of
Seo. It was the biggest shock then for the RP-PBA formed National Team. The Philippines lost 83-103.
The Philippines had to play China in the Semis. The Nationals were the only team to play the Chinese
close in the whole tourney. The Centennials lost to China 82-73. The PBA All Star squad had to beat
the pesky Kazakhs to win the Bronze 73-68. The Bronze medal game was rescued by seldom used co-captain,
"Mr. Clutch" Jojo Lastimosa.
THE 2000 PBA All Stars vs. ABC All Stars
This was a brilliant and stiff competition in the making of year 2000. The PBA-ALL Star was formed
to challenge the Top All-Star Cagers in Asia - the ABC ALL-STARS. The PBA-All Stars was formed from
all the Top Players in the PBA during 2000 season with the inclusion of Rodney "The Slasher" Santos,
Marlou "The Sky Scraper" Aquino, Alvin "The Captain" Patrimonio, Johnny "The Flying A" Abarrientos,
Bong "The Hawk" Hawkins, Noy "The Golden Boy" Castillo, Danny "Raise The Roof" Ildefonso, Danny
"The Dynamite" Seigle, Kenneth "Captain Marbel" Duremdes, and 6'10 Andrew John Seigle. From the
new Tanduay team, Eric "Major Pain" Menk and Rudy "The H Bomb" Hatfield were picked to beef-up the RP squad.
The ABC ALL-STARS were no pushovers for they paraded the brightest Cagers in Asia. Team Captain
Rommel "The General" Adducul of the Philippines MBA Manila Metro Stars led the pack together with
Chinese All-Stars Gong Xiao Bin and Zhu Dong, Lebanon hall of famers Elie Mchantaf and Fadi El Khatib,
Chinese Taipei's Superstar Cheng Chih Lung "The Dragon", Sozhasingharayer Robinson - the behemoth from
India and other Asian top brass.
The competition looked to be a grudge match at the start. Yet, the PBA ALL-STARS showed their
class and and stomped their superior firepower en route to 101-81 romp of the ABC All-Star. Johnny
"The Flying A" Abarrientos grabbed the MVP award for his superb performance in this match. The
Sportsmanship Award were given to Eric Menk and Elie Mchantaf respectively.
2002 PBA-RP SELECTA BUSAN ASIAN GAMES TEAM - 4th Place Finish
Hopes were high for this particular team for it assembled a battery of talented Local and Fil-Am cagers
and mapped out a rigorous nine-month buildup with foreign exposure and stints in the pro league. It had
stints in Europe against powerful European NTs like Latvia, Italy (with Pecile) and Ukraine - even
defeating Ukraine for the Bronze Medal Finish. They tied the two game exhibition against the import
reinforced Melbourne Tigers of Australia bannered by Olympian Andrew Gaze and two American imports.
They also showed their wares by defeating handily the Taiwan NT and Qatar NT both two times in a row.
Unfortunately, it seemed doomed from the start. It lost its original head coach - Mr. Ron Jacobs, long regarded
a basketball guru in Manila (especially during the NCC days), to a massive stroke and its No.1 offensive
threat - Danny "The Dynamite" Seigle to a torn Achilles ligament just four days before the Games.
A medal in basketball would've meant so much to the Filipino nation at the 14th Asian Games in Busan
but it wasn't meant to be.
In the end, the lack of exposure to international competition killed the Philippine team's hopes of
bagging a medal, whatever the color. Coach Joseph Uichico's squad blew a golden opportunity to face
China in the finals when it lost a heartbreaker to the South Koreans.
In the Busan Semifinals, The RP cagers came within seconds of upending host South Korea, 66-68,
until Lee Sang Min - who missed his first four attempts beyond the arc earlier - buried a three-
pointer at the buzzer and the Filipinos suffered its most painful defeat in Asiad memory, 68-69,
in the semifinals.
So devastated emotionally were the Filipinos, they're only human, after all - they came out
flat and lethargic against Kazakhstan and lost the battle for the bronze, 66-68.
Thus, the team matched the fourth place finish of the national team, then coached by American
Norman Black, in the 1994 Hiroshima Games. It was the worst performance of a national squad since
PBA players suited up for the Games in 1990. It won a silver in Beijing and a bronze four years ago
in Bangkok.
Still, the Nationals bucked tremendous odds and nearly overcame the South Koreans, its
tormentors in many an Asiad, before a stunned 5,000 Korean crowd. But as fate would have it,
it was a shocking defeat that will be long remembered by Filipinos.
Now the Koreans owe the Filipinos two - one, for handing that terrible loss and, two, for
inflicting an emotional low that cost them the bronze the following day.
Did you know?
RP probably owns the record for establishing the biggest lead in an international basketball game.
The Philippine team registered what could be the world's biggest lead in an international
basketball game when it massacred Brunei Darussalam, 160-19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on
July 2, 2000. The 141-point lead could be the biggest for any Pinoy team since the americans
introduced basketball in the Philippines. During the game, the RP team limited the Brunei squad
to only 19 points. It later won the SEABA young men's tournament crown against Malaysia.
The Philippines played one of the first game of Olympic basketball against Mexico during the 1936
Olympics. Dr. James Naismith even handed out the awards personally.
Philippines' fifth place finish in the 1936 Berlin Olympics still marked as the highest finish by
any Asian nation in the history of the summer games in Basketball.
In addition, back in the 1954 World Championships in Rio De Janeiro, the Philippines placed third
overall (bronze medal) behind the USA and Brazil. This result is also the highest by any Asian nation up to present time.
Filipinas first played Basketball?
There are historical accounts that Filipino women first played basketball, which was introduced
by the Americans in the country. It was said that Filipino men considered basketball as a game
for girls only.
Jabbar borrowed Bachmann's hookshot?
Kurt Bachmann Jr., a Filipino basketball player who had a German father, reportedly
impressed Kareem Abdul Jabbar in an exhibition match between the US and the Philippines in
1954. Jabbar, who was known as Lew Alcindor then, reportedly borrowed Bachmann's hook shot.
Philippines - once a basketball superpower?
by Andrew Punzalan
Basketball was introduced to the Philippines in 1901, by members of the American YMCA.
The Philippine Amateur Basketball League was established in 1910. After that, basketball
became a nationally popular sport in the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
What many people didn't know or even heard of is that the Philippines was truly one
of the global superpowers in international cage hoops in the past - if not the most
powerful during its' prime.
In the 1936 Berlin Olympiad where the RP Team placed fifth, Philippines defeated
Mexico 32-30 in the second round and toppled Estonia 39-22 in the third round. In the
classification round of the same tourney, the Filipinos defeated the highly touted
powerhouse Italy 32-14, and romped past Uruguay 33-23. Curiously, the Philippine
delegation never made it to the Medal round (due to a controversial ruling) although
it had not lost to any team except to the United States with the score of 56-23. The
Philippine Team was ably led by Ambrosio Padilla (team captain), who later became a
senator; the 6'1" Charles Borck, Jacinto Ciria Cruz, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan,
Franco Marquicias, Fortunato Yambao, Amador Obondo, Bibjano Quano and Johnny Worrel.
Also, the same games were played in a lawn tennis court (which was terribly hampered
by a bad rainy weather), and the awards were given by no less than Dr. James Naismith.
During the 1948 London Olympics the Philippines landed a 12th place finish. The RP
team was bracketed to Group B in the eliminations and posted a win-loss record of 3-2.
The Filipinos massacred Iraq 102-30, marched past Korea 35-33, and stomped down on China
51-32. It lost its' elimination assignments to Chile 68-39, and was upset by Belgium 37-35.
The Philippines figured in a five-way tie in the elimination round and was ejected from the
medal-round because of the point system implemented. In the classification round (non-medal
competition), Philippines defeated the recent Olympic champions Argentina with a 45-43 score
but bowed down to Belgium 38-34 and Peru 40-29.
The Philippines was tied for 9th place overall in the 1952 Olympiad. The Filipinos
found themselves in Group B in the preliminary round with 2-0 win-loss record by
blasting Israel 54-47 and Hungary 48-35. The Pinoys advanced to the main tournament and
showed its' might against Canada 81-65, but eventually lost to Argentina 85-59 and Brazil 71-52.
The 1956 Melbourne Olympics saw the Philippines bracketed in Group A in the Elimination
round and made a 2-1 win-loss performance to land in 7th place over-all. They defeated
Thailand 55-44 and Japan 76-61, but horribly succumbed to USA with a dismal 121-53. In the
quarterfinals, the Philippines defeated France with a 65-58 beating but bowed again to the
physically playing Uruguay 79-70 and Chile 88-69. In the non-medal round, the Philippines
took a sweet revenge to Chile 75-68, but stumbled down to Bulgaria 80-70.
An 11th place finish was the best the Philippines can offer in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
In the eliminations, the Filipinos were bracketed to Group D and made a 1-2 win-loss
record by defeating Spain 84-82, but lost to Poland 86-68 and Uruguay 80-76. In the
classification round, the Pinoys posted a 2-1 win-loss slate by beating down Puerto
Rico 82-80 and Bulgaria 2-0 (forfeited), and fell to Hungary 81-70. In the second
classification round, the Philippines handily pounded their way through Mexico 65-64
but lost to France 122-75.
In the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Brazil, the Philippines staged the
greatest mark in the history of the basketball-crazed nation, by taking the Bronze
Medal in a show of power. Overall, the Philippines posted a 5-2 win-loss record and
fell behind eventual champions USA and silver medalists Brazil - the hometown favorite.
The USA had the biggest scare in the tournament when they faced squarely with the
Filipinos. Opening play in the final round, the U.S. was given a run for its money by
the Philippines. Trailing by just three points at the half, 25-22, the Philippines
squad rallied at the start of the second half and took a 31-26 lead. However, the USA
offense got rolling and with three minutes remaining the USA had control 49-30 before
finally settling for a 56-43 victory. The 6-6 forward Kirby Minter led the USA offense
with 15 points. Although the Americans managed to post a strong win-loss slate of 9-0,
they will never forget their memorable encounter with the formidable Filipino squad. The
Filipinos on the other hand, was led by Carlos "The Big Difference" Loyzaga - the team
captain who won the Mythical Five award in the same tourney - for being the third highest
individual scorer over-all. Loyzaga was also the first basketball player to be inducted
into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Also present in the line-up were Lauro Mumar,
Florentino Bautista, Francisco Rabat, Benjamin Francisco, and the 6'2 Mariano Tolentino.
The Philippines beat the favored Uruguay team, 67-63, to clinch the Bronze Medal on
November 5, 1954. This mighty feat until now, remains unsurpassed in the realms of
Philippine Basketball and Asia as a whole.
Imagine the Philippines to be one of the only top ten nations to have ever landed in
the medal tally of the prestigious history of the World Basketball Championships. This
is such a great feat that the Philippines made it in the history of basketball in terms
of world basketball competition (as part of the only top ten world medal achieving nations)
and in the history of Asia to be the only country to ever make it to such a notable standing.
Filipino Basketball Hall of Famers
As of 2002, there are 22 basketball greats enshrined into the Hall of Fame. Aside
from Carlos Loyzaga, other players who have been named to the National Basketball
Hall of Fame since 1999 include Kurt Bachmann, Carlos Badion, Narciso Bernardo, Charlie
Borck, Ramoncito Campos, Loreto Carbonell, Jacinto Ciria-Cruz, Geronimo Cruz, Fely and
Gabby Fajardo, Tony Genato, Rafael Hechanova, Eddie Lim, Alfonso (Boy) Marquez, Antonio and
Primitivo Martinez, Lauro Mumar, Ed Ocampo, Ambrosio Padilla, Mariano Tolentino, and Francisco Vestil.
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