History
In the 1950s, the Philippine team was among the best basketball teams in the world after winning two consecutive Asian Games basketball gold medals (1951, 1954).
Despite missing the first FIBA World Championship (1950) in Argentina, the Philippines participated in the 1954 FIBA World Championship held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Philippines finished with a 5-2 win-loss record in the Final Round games, and captured the bronze medal. The third place-finish is still currently the best finish by an Asian country in the World Championships. Carlos Loyzaga finished as the world tournament’s third leading scorer (148 points/16.4 points per game) and was named in the FIBA World Mythical Five Selection.
Before the end of the decade, the country retained the Asian Games basketball gold medal in 1958. During this period, the Philippines had also consistently played, in the Olympic Games basketball tournament since 1936.
In the 1960s, the first FIBA Asia Championship was won by the Philippines with Carlos Badion as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. In 1962, the Philippines won its fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal and retained the Asian championship in 1963.
Meanwhile, the Philippines won the right to host the third FIBA World Championship but were suspended after then President Diosdado Macapagal, father of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, refused to issue visa to players from communist countries (notably basketball powerhouse Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union).
In the Asian Games, after Carlos Loyzaga’s retirement, the Philippines' dominance declined but the country continued to play competitively in the Asian, and World Championships. While in the Olympic Games, the Philippines played poorly, unable to reach the top 10.
Read more about this topic: Basketball In The Philippines
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