history of basketball in the philippines
History
Basketball, which was invented at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, was introduced to the Philippines by the YMCA early in the American colonial period (1898-1946). The Philippines succeeded to win several medals in various pan-Asian competitions over the next few decades.
Post War
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.
The Professional Era
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the birth of two new leagues: the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), founded in April 1975, and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) in 1983; both leagues replaced the 34 year old MICAA.
The PBA is composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA. The league's regulations are a hybrid of rules from FIBA and the NBA. The league was founded in Quezon City on April 9, 1975. Its individual team offices are directed out of PBA head offices located in Eastwood City in Quezon City.
In 1978, the Philippines hosted the FIBA World Championship and finished 8th in the tournament, despite losing all its games. The event was the first World Basketball Championship ever to be held in Asian soil.
1980s In the 1980s, Northern Consolidated Cement, a team composed of the country's national basketball training pool, won the FIBA Asia Club Championship (1984), and earned the right to play in the World Cup for Champion Clubs (1985) (1) in Gerona, Spain. The Philippines got the 7th place finished, the crowd loves them as small but terrible. The team also captured the William Jones Cup championship.
In 1986, the Philippines won its fifth FIBA Asia Championship and earned the right to play in the 1986 FIBA World Championship held at Madrid, Spain. The team failed to play in the world championships due to political crisis, and the eventual coming of the Philippines' People Power Revolution. Later in 1986, the Philippines captured the bronze medal in the Asian Games after a controversial semi-final loss toSouth Korea.
1990s In 1990’s, the Philippines sent all-professional national teams in the Asian Games basketball tournaments. The PBA was given the task to reclaim basketball supremacy in Asia but was limited by the national association, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), to play just in the Asian Games.
The first all-professional national team was formed in 1990, coached by Robert Jaworski, and the team produced a number of PBA superstars such as Alvin Patrimonio, Avelino "Samboy" Lim, and 1990 PBA Most Valuable Player Allan Caidic. The team finished second, and captured the silver medal after losing to China in the finals. Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim were named in the Asian Games basketball all-star mythical five selection.
In 1994, San Miguel Beermen, which captured the PBA All-Filipino Cup title, earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games. The team also included loaned PBA players, and amateur standouts. The PBA-San Miguel Philippines team finished fourth place after losing to China, and Japan in the play-offs. Allan Caidic, Asia’s most feared Filipino player, finished as the Asian Games’ leading scorer, and was named in the Asian Games All-Star Mythical Five Selection.
In 1998, the PBA formed the celebrated Philippine Centennial Team which captured the 21st William Jones Cup championship and the bronze medal in the Asian Games held at Bangkok, Thailand.
The centennial celebrations also witnessed the birth of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), the Philippines second professional league.
2000s In 2000, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) celebrated its 25th anniversary and named the "PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team", the top 25 were – Johnny Abarrientos, William "Bogs" Adornado,Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Lim Eng Beng, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry Codiñera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernard Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Alberto Guidaben,Freddie Hubalde, Robert Jaworski, Jojo Lastimosa, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Benjie Paras, and Alvin Patrimonio. Later, the PBA All-Star Selection beat the FIBA Asia All-Star Selection, which was led by Filipino and MBA superstar Rommel Adducul.
Basketball, which was invented at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, was introduced to the Philippines by the YMCA early in the American colonial period (1898-1946). The Philippines succeeded to win several medals in various pan-Asian competitions over the next few decades.
Post War
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.
The Professional Era
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the birth of two new leagues: the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), founded in April 1975, and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) in 1983; both leagues replaced the 34 year old MICAA.
The PBA is composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA. The league's regulations are a hybrid of rules from FIBA and the NBA. The league was founded in Quezon City on April 9, 1975. Its individual team offices are directed out of PBA head offices located in Eastwood City in Quezon City.
In 1978, the Philippines hosted the FIBA World Championship and finished 8th in the tournament, despite losing all its games. The event was the first World Basketball Championship ever to be held in Asian soil.
1980s In the 1980s, Northern Consolidated Cement, a team composed of the country's national basketball training pool, won the FIBA Asia Club Championship (1984), and earned the right to play in the World Cup for Champion Clubs (1985) (1) in Gerona, Spain. The Philippines got the 7th place finished, the crowd loves them as small but terrible. The team also captured the William Jones Cup championship.
In 1986, the Philippines won its fifth FIBA Asia Championship and earned the right to play in the 1986 FIBA World Championship held at Madrid, Spain. The team failed to play in the world championships due to political crisis, and the eventual coming of the Philippines' People Power Revolution. Later in 1986, the Philippines captured the bronze medal in the Asian Games after a controversial semi-final loss toSouth Korea.
1990s In 1990’s, the Philippines sent all-professional national teams in the Asian Games basketball tournaments. The PBA was given the task to reclaim basketball supremacy in Asia but was limited by the national association, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), to play just in the Asian Games.
The first all-professional national team was formed in 1990, coached by Robert Jaworski, and the team produced a number of PBA superstars such as Alvin Patrimonio, Avelino "Samboy" Lim, and 1990 PBA Most Valuable Player Allan Caidic. The team finished second, and captured the silver medal after losing to China in the finals. Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim were named in the Asian Games basketball all-star mythical five selection.
In 1994, San Miguel Beermen, which captured the PBA All-Filipino Cup title, earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games. The team also included loaned PBA players, and amateur standouts. The PBA-San Miguel Philippines team finished fourth place after losing to China, and Japan in the play-offs. Allan Caidic, Asia’s most feared Filipino player, finished as the Asian Games’ leading scorer, and was named in the Asian Games All-Star Mythical Five Selection.
In 1998, the PBA formed the celebrated Philippine Centennial Team which captured the 21st William Jones Cup championship and the bronze medal in the Asian Games held at Bangkok, Thailand.
The centennial celebrations also witnessed the birth of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), the Philippines second professional league.
2000s In 2000, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) celebrated its 25th anniversary and named the "PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team", the top 25 were – Johnny Abarrientos, William "Bogs" Adornado,Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Lim Eng Beng, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry Codiñera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernard Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Alberto Guidaben,Freddie Hubalde, Robert Jaworski, Jojo Lastimosa, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Benjie Paras, and Alvin Patrimonio. Later, the PBA All-Star Selection beat the FIBA Asia All-Star Selection, which was led by Filipino and MBA superstar Rommel Adducul.