Playing with the Big Boys

Playing with the Big Boys:

The Filipino Crossover of Collegiate Basketball to

International Recognition by Competition.

Dr. Josefina D. Hofileña

Hi166 – A

Submitted by:

Crystal F. Padilla

Quinito C. Sanchez

Nicole M. Severino

Amanda B. Uy

Analyn L. Yap

I. Introduction:

Rafe Bartholomew, a Fulbright scholar, once pondered how a nation of

five-foot-something men in tsinelas and sandos could engage and enthrall

themselves in a sport that was meant for taller, much bigger men. He spent

three years in the Philippines trying to understand this phenomenon, in the end

publishing a book that culminated his research. Some people know him for this

feat of writing Pacific Rims, a much-celebrated book on the Philippines’ affinity

with basketball. Others know him as the man who brought the famous Ateneo

vs. La Salle basketball rivalry to the rest of the world, by writing a front page

story that came out in the New York Times. One of the most interesting and

most celebrated facets of Filipino basketball history revolves around collegiate

basketball and the way it has been fundamental in breeding players that

eventually paved the way for Filipino preeminence in basketball, fifty to sixty

years ago. This research paper attempts to trace the game play of basketball,

particularly its collegiate facet, as it paves the way for a new kind of Filipino

patriotism, through distinction and recognition by victories in international

competitions.

Lou Apolinario Antolihao, in his doctorate thesis, Can The Subaltern

Play?, writes about the hegemony of basketball in the Philippines, and quotes a

passage from The Filipino Athlete [Nov 1935 issue]:

“Perhaps no other game is as widely played today in the Philippines as

basketball. No school is so small or obscure that it does not have a team that

aspires to local championship at least. In every nook or corner of the

archipelago there are ardent basketball fans and wherever there is a vacant lot

anywhere, barefooted kids indulge in the sport with the zeal and enthusiasm of

true amateurs. In the Philippines, basketball is the sport “par excellence”.1

Basketball has become such an integral part in Filipino life and culture

that it is difficult to imagine a time without basketball. The current state of

basketball, in all its prevalence, glamour, commercialization, and prestige,

emerged from its long history in the Philippines, one that spans over 80-90

years, during the American colonial period in the early 20th century, particularly

as a part of the educational system they implemented that implied a great deal

of Americanization in Philippine society. American values and consumerism

were eventually ingrained with the Filipino attempt to adopt the sport.

In the past century, the Philippines has long maintained a pervasive

presence of basketball in its society. It is evident in the way basketball courts

are littered all over the cities, seemingly at every street corner. Businessmen

and marketing managers take advantage of the popularity of the sport in

endorsing their businesses, and basketball stars use their influence to secure

positions in the government or pursue careers in acting2. All the way down to

the everyday man, the collective consciousness of the Filipino when it comes to

sport and recreation echoes a resounding bias to basketball. Pass by along your

typical street neighborhood in Manila, or the rest of the Philippines, and one is

bound to spot a man wearing a loose basketball jersey and shorts as pambahay.

In the collegiate scene, basketball is given the highest regard among all

sports, evident by the heavy publicity and massive crowd support it receives. A

quick drive along EDSA reveals towering billboards of student basketball

celebrities campaigning for high-end sports brands. The annual UAAP and

1 Antolihao, L. (2009). Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial Transition and the Making of Basketball as the National Sports in the Philippines. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ScholarBank@NUS: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/173512 Bartholomew, R. (2010). Pacific Rims. New York: New American LIbrary.

NCAA seasons are met with much enthusiasm, preparation, and a barrage of

televised advertising campaigns. Only in Philippine collegiate basketball will

one see brand names infiltrating highlight basketball moves and key players.

(eg. Mentos Rainbow Shot, PS Bank Maasahan Player of the Game, Gatorade

Hyperplay of the Quarter, etc.) This apparent popularity takes root in a deep-

seeded history that reached its pinnacle in the 1950s-1960s, otherwise known

as the golden age of Philippine basketball, where in collegiate leagues and

players were the essential contributors.

II. The Beginnings of Basketball in the Pre-War Period

Back in 1901, around a thousand American teachers from various states

in the United States arrived at the Philippines. They reformed the educational

system that the Spaniards had established, operating under a reward system to

encourage students to come to school when previously they were subjected to

corporal punishment for their mistakes. Thus the image of the American that

has been stamped on the Filipino consciousness is the image of the teacher.

What the Americans left behind, however, was more than the structural

changes in the educational system that allowed for an improvement in literacy,

numeracy and other academic subjects in the students. Education became a

platform in which to transmit American culture in the Philippines through the

use and teaching of the English language as well as the instilling of key values

and promotion of the American way of life. The materials and activities chosen

for instruction further aided the introduction of foreign concepts to the Filipino

consciousness 3.

Social engineering was one of the concepts adopted by the Americans as

an initiative for modernization. The Philippines as a colony of the United States,

3 Racelis, M. (2001). Bearers of Benevolence: The Thomasites and Public Education in the Philippines. Pasig: Anvil Publishing.

was subject to the reforms of “US colonial design”.4 Back in the early 20th

century, America was reaping the benefits of modernization, as seen in their

liberal views on culture, and staunch inclination to capitalism. One of the

cultural attempts for modernization was sport and recreation, particularly

basketball. Hence to play basketball was to play a modern sport, and by this

mindset, many young Filipinos, especially those in the upper classes, were

attracted to play the new sport that reminded them of a coming new era.

There is no actual evidence that pinpoints the origin of basketball in the

Philippines, but it is said that the locals may have learned the basics by

watching American soldiers play the game as a form of recreational activity

during the colonial period5. Hence from the traumatic image of a previous

enemy soldier, the American military was given a second impression of being

physical and sports educators by the Filipinos.

Antolihao writes that the lure of basketball comes from its association

with “the promise of progress”. Basketball is perceived to be modern, a quality

that the Filipinos—particularly the rising middle class, characterized by their

being educated and urban-based—found very attractive. This helped elevate the

sport and eventually led to its propagation in the country. American officials

introduced the concepts of physical exercise and competitive sports as a means

of “correcting Filipinos’ physical deficiencies”, particularly the “susceptibility to

illness, the high death rate and the comparatively small amount of industry” or

productiveness. These concepts were linked to sanitation, highlighting the

importance of taking care of one’s body and avoiding disease and thus

strengthening the working force of the Filipinos. Furthermore exercise was

4 Antolihao, L. (2009). Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial Transition and the Making of Basketball as the National Sports in the Philippines. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ScholarBank@NUS: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/173515 Antolihao, L. (2009). Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial Transition and the Making of Basketball as the National Sports in the Philippines. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ScholarBank@NUS: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/17351

seen as a way to instill values characteristic of modern democratic societies,

such as self-restraint, obedience to rules, respect for others’ rights, teamwork,

and discipline. It can be said, then, that the introduction of sports in the

Philippines was a way Filipinos could develop the principles and demeanor

necessary for an effective independent democratic government—which was one

of the goals of the American colonial rule.

There were other motives involved, modernizing of the seemingly

backward and barbaric Filipinos and keeping the American soldiers too

preoccupied to engage in vice among them. Apparently there was a pacifying

effect to sports, as they provided an outlet and diversion from tribal wars.

Antolihao goes on to cite a particular instance where Moros symbolically

exchanges bolos for baseball bats. As a corollary to peace and order, sports also

promoted national unity, breaking down geographical and cultural barriers

between the Filipinos as they engaged in a shared experience 6.

In addition, during the Spanish colonial period, the most prevalent sports

in the colleges were those of a singular competitive nature that was exclusive to

only those who could afford them. Fencing and dueling were taught to elite-

class gentlemen in the tertiary level. The European tradition prevailed as long

as Spain inhabited the Philippines. When the Americans came, it was a

fundamental part of their policy to reform the education into an encompassing

public school system that made education and sports learning available to those

who have been shunned by the Spanish educational system.7

It is also notable to mention, that unlike the singular nature of European

fencing, the Americans chose to bring in team sports such as baseball, football,

and basketball, to highlight the values of cooperation, team play, and discipline.

6 Antolihao, L. (2009). Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial Transition and the Making of Basketball as the National Sports in the Philippines. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ScholarBank@NUS: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/173517 Bartholomew, R. (2010). Pacific Rims. New York: New American LIbrary.

Whatever the reason may be, the American regime promoted sports as

part of education, even going so far as to give academic incentives when

students participated in organized sports. Competition was a means to incite

enthusiasm among the students. The NCAA and UAAP eventually arose to

address the growing interest in competitive sports and collegiate sports

naturally became popular 8. The notion of incentives manifested itself in the rise

of basketball over the other sports that were brought to the Philippines,

particularly in the collegiate scene.

III. Collegiate Basketball

A. Rise to popularity and massive crowd-drawing

Collegiate basketball was the premier sector in the early parts of

Philippine basketball history. It rose to the pinnacle of popularity in the

collegiate scene because as discussed earlier, it was the sport that was most

closely associated with the idea of modernization and the urban. Among all

other sports, basketball was considered the ultimate spectator sport. Droves of

people came in flocks to watch basketball games, which were situated indoors,

inside courts. The same case is true today; a crowd of UAAP and NCAA devotees

can easily fill up big venues like Araneta, San Juan Arena, and Philsports.

According to Bartholomew, the Americans promoted baseball to the Filipinos as

well, but they were not as enamored as they were for basketball. If we contrast

the details of each sport, the venue has something to do with the way

basketball/baseball perceptions were made. Antolihao points out that baseball

games were played in open, grassy fields under the hot sun, while basketball

games were played inside the comforts of an indoor court or stadium.

8 Juico, P. E. (n.d.). Sports for All. The Philippine Star .

Basketball gained a stronger following in the collegiate league simply because it

was more comfortable to watch. The grassy, outdoor venue of baseball also

implied rural perceptions on the sport, while the roofed, indoor venue for

basketball further established its perception as a modern sport. Moreover, it

was the elite colleges of Manila that propagated collegiate basketball. Elite

colleges like San Beda, Ateneo, La Salle, and Letran considered intercollegiate

games a prime source of entertainment, while schools from the provinces

advocated baseball. 9

Moreover, the attention of mass media was evidently inclined towards

basketball. Bartholomew writes that “the social cache of college and

semiprofessional leagues put the sport on the airwaves.” 10 Major NCAA games

would be given primary news space, as well as supplementary spreads in

college newspapers such as The GUIDON. (see Figure 1)

Figure 1: Basketball stories given primary placing in The GUIDON

B. On collegiate basketball leagues

As the Americans promoted athletic competitions, there was a need to

manage them. The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) was formed

on 1911 for the sake of  amateur sports, which were clearly becoming more

9 Antolihao, L. (2009). Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial Transition and the Making of Basketball as the National Sports in the Philippines. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ScholarBank@NUS: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/1735110 Bartholomew, R. (2010). Pacific Rims. New York: New American LIbrary.

popular in the Philippines, bringing about the birth of other National Sports

Associations (NSA).

In 1916, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was founded

in the United States. Its purpose was to “rationalize and put more order into a

sports situation that had put too much emphasis on competition and winning

thus threatening athletics itself.” During that time, there was no standard set of

rules to circumvent the ensuing chaos. The rising popularity of college sports,

and consequent competitiveness and desire to win, had led to several cases of

violence, some of which ended in death. The issue had become so serious that

the president had gathered together college presidents in a meeting, which

kickstarted the establishment of the NCAA.

In 1924, Dr. Regino Ylanan, the physical director of the University of the

Philippines (UP), formed the NCAA in the Philippines specifically to handle

basketball which was rapidly becoming popular all over the country. Ateneo de

Manila, De La Salle, Institute of Accounts, National University (NU), University

of Manila, UP, and University of Santo Tomas (UST) were the colleges that

participated in this organization.  

        When Ylanan moved on to become national physical director, Professor

Candido Bartolome took over the position of physical director of UP and

proceeded to put together the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The NCAA was, unsurprisingly, patterned after American sports leagues—

Ylanan and Bartolome had both completed their graduate studies in the United

States—and its starting members were NU, UP and UST, which made it known

as “The Big Three”. 11

The American NCAA (1916) was established eight years earlier than the

Filipino version of the NCAA (1924). Prior to this, there were also other earlier

11 Juico, P. E. (n.d.). Sports for All. The Philippine Star .

leagues such as the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Intercollegiate

Association of the United States that already existed in the US. It is evident that

from Juico’s documentation, Filipinos borrowed the notion of league

organization from the Americans, most notably from Ylanan and Bartolome, who

had studied in the US, and also from the American coaches, priests and

educators in the Philippines who brought basketball to Philippine shores in the

first place.

IV. Collegiate Rivalries

Rivalries are bound to emerge out of any sport and basketball is no

different. In the Philippines, basketball takes rivalries on a whole new level.

Local rivalries bring about extreme pressure felt by both players and spectators.

And although these rivalries cause endless debates and even violence at times,

they are encouraged not just for boosting school spirit but game attendance and

television ratings as well. With basketball’s emergence as the country’s most

popular sport came the emergence of the country’s fiercest collegiate rivalries

that still exist to this day. There is no question that collegiate basketball

rivalries remain to be the one of the strongest factors in motivating players to

push themselves for improvement and excellence in their sport.

A. Ateneo-La Salle Rivalry

Without a doubt, the biggest rivalry in Philippine sports in recent history

is the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. Every time these two titans clash, it is considered

a big event. Whether or not it is a preseason game or the deciding game of the

championship, they will go all out to claim victory. For these two bitter foes, the

words “no-bearing game” can never be associated with their encounters. One of

them has to win, and the other has to lose. As a result, they fight tooth and nail

just so they can have bragging rights over the other.

Due to the intensity of this rivalry, one eventually finds himself asking

about its origins. Every rivalry has a beginning, and the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry

traces its roots all the way back to a championship game that took place in

1939. Back then, both schools were members of the National Collegiate Athletic

Association (NCAA). Prior to the championship game, Ateneo had single-

handedly dominated the league, winning all their games convincingly except for

one meaningless exhibition game to a team of visiting Canadians 12. Pundits had

them bringing home the bacon, which was somewhat of a habit for them at the

time. During the match, however, La Salle managed to defy the odds and turned

the tables on Ateneo. By the 4th quarter, the La Sallites had managed to spot a

sizeable lead over their Atenean counterparts13. Refusing to lose, the Ateneans

attempted one last comeback with the hopes of salvaging the game13. Timely

baskets by the La Sallites, however, prevented them from achieving the

dramatic ending that they desired114. As a result, the final score read 27-23 in

favor of the La Sallites, giving them their first ever NCAA Basketball

Championship115.

Despite the bitterness of the loss, this was not what spa rked the rivalry

between these two schools that continues on today. According to sources,

students from La Salle were so overjoyed by the win that “after Ateneo’s bitter

defeat, people from La Salle chucked fried chicken into the Padre Faura

Campus during their school’s victory march”16. And ever since this act of

disrespect occurred, the Ateneans started viewing the La Sallites as their rivals

12 The Guidon, September 30, 1939: 3-4.1313 Ibid1415 Ibid1516 Ibid16 Eric Abenojar & Paula V. Peralta Peralta, "Tradition Continues: The Eagle and The Archer," The Guidon, October 7, 2004: 10.

and have longed for revenge. However, they had to wait 19 years before they

could get back at their new archrivals for dethroning them as champions, as

well as mocking them during the aftermath. In 1958, the two rivals would meet

again in the Finals. And just like in 1939 the Ateneans were favored to win after

walloping La Salle to the tune of 93-73 in their 2nd Round meeting prior to the

Finals17. La Salle, however, refused to be humiliated once again and made life

difficult for Ateneo all throughout the game18. As a result, the game went into

overtime where the Ateneans needed a last second putback19 to secure not just

the win, but revenge for the chicken-throwing incident 19 years ago.

The famous Ateneo-La Salle UAAP rivalry’s counterpart in the NCAA

today is the San Beda-Letran rivalry. Although this rivalry did not garner as

much attention as the previous two, it is undoubtedly just as intense, even

earning a distinct moniker for their match up: The Dream Finals.

B. San Beda – Letran Rivalry

The 2007 NCAA senior’s basketball finals, dubbed as the Dream Finals,

was only the second time San Beda and Letran faced-off in the finals. 20The first

and only other time was in 1950 and that meeting sparked a rivalry that still

exists today. During the 1950 NCAA Senior’s Basketball championship, Letran’s

basketball team dominated the NCAA basketball scene and was dubbed

“Murder Inc.” by sportscaster Willie Hernandez because of the team’s

consistency in beating opposing teams by a large margin. Letran was on the

verge of winning the championship and could have won the title with a sweep

(today’s Final Four format was yet to be implemented) but was beaten by then

underdog San Beda in the last game. This upset was so huge that Letran’s key

17 Jose M. Faustino, The Guidon, November 17, 1958.18 Ibid19 Ibid20 Galvez, W. (2007, September 19). San Beda is favorite, Letran eyes upset. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.mb.com.ph/node/33993

player, Lauro Mumar, was even suspected of throwing the game. 21 Although

Letran eventually beat San Beda in the finals to claim the title, this was the

beginning of one of the fiercest rivalries on collegiate basketball. Ironically, the

two teams have only faced each other twice in the finals but have made legacies

of their own by winning multiple championships and dominating the league at

different times. (San Beda in the 70’s, Letran in the 80’s-90’s and San Beda in

the present.)

Letran was then led by Lauro Mumar while San Beda was led by Carlos

Loyzaga. Coming into the NCAA collegiate finals, both players had already

made names for themselves in Philippine basketball. Mumar had an Inter-

Collegiate Championship with San Carlos University, 2 MICAA crowns with the

Manila Ports Terminal, and was also part of the national team for the 1948

London Olympics that finished 12th overall. 22 Meanwhile, Loyzaga had been part

of the winning PRATRA team in the MICAA. Loyzaga initially wanted to play for

Letran but was given the cold treatment by the coach. He also almost played for

UST but was convinced by then San Beda coach Felicisimo Fajardo to play for

San Beda instead.23 Both Loyzaga and Mumar were from the province and both

had foreign blood as well as the gift of height–Loyzaga was 6”3’ and Mumar was

6”2’. Loyzaga and Mumar not only faced each other in the NCAA but in the

MICAA as well. In 1954, Loyzaga joined the Yco Painters with a solid line-up

consisting of former rivals. That same year, the Republic Super Market

Greyhounds, a new team, emerged with a near-mythical line-up that included

Mumar. This time, it was Loyzaga and the Yco Painters who emerged victorious

21 Iñigo, M. (2007, September 25). Murder, Inc. ‘plays big role for Letran.’ The Inquirer. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=90501 22 Dingle, A. (1972). Lauro Mumar. In J. Afable (Ed.), Philippine sports greats. Mandaluyong: Man Publishers.

23Celis, E. (1972). Carlos Loyzaga. In J. Afable (Ed.), Philippine sports greats. Mandaluyong: Man Publishers.

winning the MICAA crown that signaled the beginning of the Yco Painters

MICAA legacy. 24

This rivalry between Loyzaga and Mumar would eventually turn into a

partnership that would bring numerous honors for the country. Perhaps a

foreshadowing of their powerful partnership could be seen when both players

joined the star-studded PRISCO MICAA team in 1953 along with Mumar’s fellow

Olympians, Mariano Tolentino and Florentino Bautista as well as Ning Ramos

and Edward Dee. 25 With such a strong line-up, PRISCO easily won every

prestigious championship in Manila including the MICAA, the National Open,

and the Challenge to Champions. It was this brilliant partnership between two

established and respected basketball institutions that proved to be essential for

the country, as the Philippines became powerful force in basketball, in both Asia

and the world.

C. Ateneo-San Beda Rivalry

Before their rivalry with the La Sallites began, the title of “Public Enemy

#1” for the Ateneans belonged to the San Bedans. During the early years of the

NCAA, the two schools were known to compete with each other for

championships. According to Rick Olivares, an avid follower and unofficial

“historian” of Ateneo Basketball, Ateneo and San Beda “played in 10

championship matches (the head-to-head score is 5-5) and the two always

seemed to stand in each other's way of achievement”26. Indeed, every time the

Ateneans tried to assert their might in the basketball court, the San Bedans

made sure they would not be too far behind. They matched them blow for blow,

24 Celis, E. (1972). Carlos Loyzaga. In J. Afable (Ed.), Philippine sports greats. Mandaluyong: Man Publishers.25 Celis, E. 26 Rick Olivares, The Seventy-Year War: Ateneo vs. La Salle, September 16, 2008, http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2008/09/seventy-year-war-ateneo-vs-la-salle.html (accessed September 1, 2010).

championship for championship and as a result the NCAA had what was called a

“white hot rivalry”.27

Just like the Ateneo – La Salle rivalry, the Ateneo – San Beda rivalry was

not without any color or drama both on and off the court. In the early 1950’s,

two marquee players from Ateneo de Davao were being groomed as blue-chip

recruits for the Blue and White28. However, the two did not make it to the

Ateneo lineup, nor the Loyola campus because of a Jesuit who abhorred athletes

that were given what he felt was “special treatment”29. As a result, the two took

their talents to San Beda, which they helped to win several championships.

Also, the San Bedans were never at a loss for words, even during times when

the Ateneans got the better of them in the basketball court. For instance, after a

game that they lost, a San Beda player was allegedly [sic] have said, “The Lion

is not dead. It only has been tamed with the Eagle riding majestically on its

back.” When San Beda turned the tables on its foe, the reply was just as telling:

“The Lion was seen walking regally chewing the last bits of eagle flesh in its

massive jaws with blue feathers flying in the sunbeams.”30 However, this is not

to say that they were uncapable of showing grace in defeat or even

sportsmanship. In 1946, a writer for The Bedan wrote, “One very commendable

feature about these Ateneo-San Beda games is that despite the intense rivalry,

the games are very clean. The Ateneans are good sports. For them last Sunday’s

double header must have been a hard one to drop. We know what that feels like.

But there was no whimper or complaint. They have shown that they can win and

lose.”31

27 Rick Olivares, Bleachers' Brew #117: The Thin Red (and Blue) Line, July 27, 2008, http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2008/07/bleachers-brew-117-thin-red-and-blue.html (accessed September 1, 2010).28 Ibid29 Ibid30 Ibid31 Ibid

The 1950’s can be said to be the golden years of both schools, for it was

during this time that they produced some of the greatest players in their

history. For Ateneo, they had players like Luis “Moro” Lorenzo and the troika of

Frankie Rabat, Mike Littaua, and Rusty Cacho32. For San Beda, however, they

had Caloy “The Big Difference” Loyzaga33, who was arguably the best player the

Philippines had during his time. During the 1954 FIBA World Championships in

Rio de Janeiro, he led the Philippines to a 3rd place finish, while also ranking 3rd

in Points Per Game34. And just to show how valuable he is to any team that he

plays for, San Beda was unable to win the 1954 NCAA Basketball Championship

simply because he was not there to impose his will in the shaded lane against

their opponents35.

D. Implications of Collegiate Rivalries on the Filipinos

It is important to note that while any rivalry has the ability to help

promote that feeling of “school spirit” in a person, it can also promote

Americanization as well. And this can be easily seen in the rivalries that

developed in the Philippines during the time of the Americans. The fact that the

Filipinos, regardless of whether they were Atenean, San Bedan, or La Sallite,

were putting in so much effort to master a sport that was invented and taught

by the Americans tells us that they wanted to be just like or even better than the

Americans themselves. Also, we can see that the Filipinos at that time were

hoping that the international community would respect or at least come to

recognize them as a country. By doing well in international competitions such

as the 1954 FIBA World Championships, Filipinos were able to show not just

32 Ibid33 Ibid34 Ibid35 Ibid

their skill in basketball, but also their potential to be great as a nation given the

right direction and opportunities.

E. Beginnings of the MICAA

The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) was

a commercial league established in 1938 by Dionisio “Chito”Calvo, a former

Olympic basketball coach. Different companies from various business sectors

made up the league, which was why players originally included employees with

day jobs.36 Since the players were initially company employees, the NCAA was

then viewed as the glamour league. When the MICAA began recruiting more

and more athletes from collegiate leagues, it eventually became a semi-

professional league wherein the country’s best basketball athletes joined.

Athletes graduating from the NCAA would then join the MICAA but many

athletes also played in both leagues simultaneously. Letran’s Mumar and San

Beda’s Loyzaga who were rivals in the collegiate league were even teammates

at one point in the MICAA.

F. From Collegiate to National

Collegiate key basketball players were also chosen for the Philippine

National Team. Table 1 presents a table of athletes in the national team who

represented the country in tournaments in which the Philippines’ team standing

was significantly high. Most of the athletes in the teams were either marquee

players in the NCAA/UAAP at the time or were former marquee players who

were scouted by MICAA teams.

Table 1: Collegiate Players in the Olympics and FIBA

Tournament Players School

36 Antolihao, N. A. (2009). The Hollywoodization of Hoops. In Can the subaltern play? Postcolonial transition and the making of basketball as the national sports in the Philippines.

1938 Olympics(5th place)

Charles BorckJacinto Ciria CruzFranco MarquiciasPrimitivo MartinezJesus MarzanAmador ObordoAmbrosio PadillaBibiano QuanoJohn WorrellFortunato Yambao

San Beda (1936 NCAA MVP)USTHeacock’s*ADMU/USTSan BedaADMU/USTADMUADMU/LetranPangasinan*Pampanga*

1948 Olympics(12th place)

Manolet AranetaRamon Campos, Jr.Eduardo DecenaAndres Dela CruzFelicisimo FajardoGabriel FajardoEdgardo FulgencioAntonio MartinezLauro MumarFrancisco Vestil

FEUDLSUDLSUFEULetran/USTLetran/USTJRU*Letran (1950 NCAA MVP)UST

1952 Olympics(9th place)

Florentino BautistaRamon Campos, Jr.Antonio GenatoJose GochangcoRafael Hechanova Sr.Eduardo LimCarlos LoyzagaAntonio MartinezPonciano SaldañaMeliton SantosAntonio TantayMariano Tolentino

LetranDLSUSan BedaFEUIloilo*San BedaSan Beda (1951, 1952 NCAA MVP)*San BedaFEU*JRU

1954 FIBABronze

Bayani AmadorRafael BarredoFlorentino BautistaNap FloresBen FranciscoCarlos LoyzagaAntonio GenatoRamon ManulatLauro MumarFrankie RabatPonciano SaldañaMariano Tolentino

FEUSan BedaLetranUSTNUSan Beda (1951, 1952 NCAA MVP)San BedaUSTLetran (1950 NCAA MVP)ADMU (1953 NCAA MVP)San BedaJRU

1956 Olympics(7th place)

Carlos BadionRafael BarettoRamon Campos, Jr.Loreto CarbonellAntonio GenatoEduardo LimCarlos LoyzagaRamon ManulatLeonardo MarquiciasMariano TolentinoMartin UrraAntonio Villamor

MAPUADLSUDLSUSan BedaSan BedaSan BedaSan Beda (1951, 1952 NCAA MVP)USTHeacock’s**DLSU*

*not from the NCAA/UAAP or information unavailable

In all the tournaments cited, at least 70% of the chosen players were

significant players in their respective colleges. In the 1954 FIBA World

Championships where the country won the bronze, the highest by any Asian

country until today, all twelve of the athletes included in the national team were

key players in the collegiate league with three of them having been season

MVP’s as well. From the data presented, it can be said that how well athletes

fared playing in the collegiate league had a significant effect in them being

selected to be included in the national team. Even if they were chosen while

they were already playing in commercial leagues such as the MICAA, their

performance in their college years was also the determining factor in being

recruited by MICAA teams. Take for example the 1953 PRISCO team that

enlisted Loyzaga (San Beda), Mumar (Letran), Tolentino (JRU), and Bautista

(Letran). All four athletes were key players during their collegiate years, swept

every prestigious championship in Manila that year as a team, and were all

selected to represented the country in the World Basketball Championship the

next year.

V. Case Studies –

Distinguished Players in Collegiate Basketball

A. Mens sana in corpore sano, Ambrosio Padilla and Luis Lorenzo

“A sound mind in a sound body”, this is the philosophy behind the

physical education program of the Ateneo de Manila. Two of the most famous

and quintessential embodiments of this adage are products of the Ateneo

basketball program, Ambrosio “Paddy” Padilla and Luis “Moro” Lorenzo.

Ambrosio “Paddy” Padilla, according to Bartholomew was “the country’s

first real basketball star”.37He started out as a senior player for the Ateneo de

Manila, a true renaissance man; he dabbled in almost every aspect of collegiate

37

Bartholomew, R. (2010) Pacific Rims. p.60

life inside the Ateneo. An article written by Ben Golez that was published in the

July 1954 issue of The GUIDON commemorates his exemplary performance as a

student-athlete. He consistently remained at the top of his class, always

garnering first honors for his academic performance. Apart from this, he also

participated in debates, oratorical and dramatic performances for the school

sodality. He graduated summa cum laude with an A.B. in 1930. Padilla is most

known, however, as the captain and star player of the Blue Eagles in the school

year 1929-1930. He led his team to one of the earliest Blue Eagle NCAA

championships. His position on court was that of a forward, and was also

distinguished as the highest individual scorer of his team for that year (27

points in one game). The highlight of Ambrosio Padilla’s basketball career was

in being selected to participate as a member of the Philippine Olympic

basketball team. He and his team was sent to compete in Japan (1930), in

Manila (1934), and most notably, with him being captain, the Philippine team

placed 5th in the 1936 World Olympics in Berlin.38

An excerpt from a personal account of the 1930 Olympic games in Japan

by Ambrosio Padilla’s basketball underclassman, J. Suarez, indicates the

scenario after winning the Far Eastern championship: “While the Philippine

National Hymn was being played we looked with pride at the Filipino flag which

was slowly being raised in token of the one and only Championship which a

fighting aggregation of Filipino athletes were able to secure.”39

After his great feats in the field of basketball, Ambrosio Padilla would

continue his legacy of excellence in law school, doctorate studies and politics.

Luis “Moro” Lorenzo is another distinguished figure in Ateneo and

Philippine ball history. Another renaissance man like Padilla, aside from

38 Golez, B. (1954, July 21). Spotlight on Law Faculty, Professor Ambrosio Padilla. The GUIDON .

39 Suarez, J. (1930, July 26). Winning a Far Eastern Championship. The GUIDON .

basketball, Lorenzo involved himself in football and tennis. He was team captain

of the Blue Eagles for three consecutive seasons, and although Ateneo did not

win any NCAA championships under his wing, he was distinguished for his

stellar individual performance. Lorenzo broke the highest individual scoring

record previously held by Ambrosio Padilla with a magnificent finish of 34

points against an unsuspecting Mapua team. He was dubbed “the Philippines’

most dependable one hand cage artist” by an Indian sportwriter, Earnest

Durnham who also commended his accurate shooting and team spirit.40

Like Ambrosio Padilla, Luis “Moro” Lorenzo’s collegiate basketball feats

were recognized even after graduating college, as he played for Philippine

Airlines in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA),

and culminated his impeccable basketball career by leading the Philippine team

to win a gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi. Luis Lorenzo

eventually flourished as a businessman-entrepreneur; serving as president and

chairman of Pepsi Products Philippines, Inc.

Mens sana in corpore sano is truly exemplified in Padilla and Lorenzo,

two well-rounded and competent individuals who started out as Ateneo

collegiate players and eventually made basketball history as they led their

respective teams to victory, bringing international recognition and honor to the

Philippines.

B. The Big Difference, Carlos Loyzaga

Carlos Loyzaga is said to be the greatest basketball player the Philippines

ever produced. His moniker was “The Big Difference” because his mere

presence in a game was an assurance of his team’s victory and his seemingly

natural ability to turn a game around to his favor. His presence on the court not

40 That Man Again. (1951, March). The GUIDON Graduation Issue .

only dominated Philippine basketball for more than a decade, it just about

assured the country’s supremacy in basketball in Asia.41

Loyzaga already had experience playing for Pratra in the MICAA before

joining San Beda in the NCAA. After coach Felicisimo Fajardo convinced him to

play for the Red Lions, Loyzaga spearheaded the team in winning 3 NCAA titles

in 1951, 1952, and 1955. His success with San Beda in the NCAA and with

PRISCO and Yco Painters in the MICAA earned him a spot in the National Team.

He was included in the roster for the Asian Games in 1951, 1954, 1958, and

1962 wherein the Philippines won the gold. He was also in the 1954 World

Championship where the country won the bronze, the highest by any Asian

country and a record that remains undefeated today. Perhaps his greatest

personal achievement was being selected as part of the Mythical Five during

the 1954 World Championship and being the 3rd highest scorer overall.4 His

accomplishments were a testament to the Filipinos being a competitor not just

in Asia but in global basketball as well. Adding to his list of achievements was

spearheading the national team to back-to-back victories in the 1960 and 1963

Asian Basketball Championships (ABC) and also the 1956 Olympics where the

country finished 7th. His successes in international basketball wasn’t limited to

playing in the team, he was the coach of the 1968 Olympic team which finished

in 13th as well as the 1967 national team that won gold in the ABC.

C. The Fox, Lauro Mumar

Lauro Mumar is considered to be one of the greatest Filipino athletes

because of his accomplishments not just as a player but also as a coach, referee,

and teacher both locally and internationally. One of his many nicknames

41 Iñigo, M. (2007, August 28). When will RP produce another Loyzaga? The Inquirer. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=85085

includes “The Fox,” because of his cunning plays and clever tricks on the court.3

Mumar started playing basketball in his hometown of Talibon, Bohol before

enrolling in San Carlos University in Cebu. His basketball influences included

American players such as Bill Sharman, who was a shooting guard, and Ed

Macauley, who played center-forward (L. Mumar, personal communication,

September 10, 2010). Looking up to these athletes who played in different

positions allowed him to be an all-around athlete on the court.

Although Mumar’s had achieved much in the 1947 Inter-Collegiate

Championships with San Carlos University, in the MICAA with the Manila Ports

Terminal, and in the 1948 Olympics with the national team, he still thought that

college education was vital for his personal advancement. His achievements in

both local and international basketball were more than enough for the title-

hungry Letran to recruit him in the late 1940’s. In 1950 he led the now-

legendary Letran “Murder, Inc.” which included Herminio Astorga, to the NCAA

championship. He was again selected to represent the country in the national

team for the 1951 and 1954 Asian Games where they won the gold. He was also

the captain of the 1954 Philippine team that won 3rd place in the World

Championship that year. Although it was Loyzaga who was recognized for his

scoring and selection in the Mythical Five, it was Mumar who called most of the

Philippine plays and who often dictated the tempo of the game. He retired early

in 1956 but continued to teach and coach locally, making winning teams out of

mediocre players in local leagues and instructing at the National College of

Physical Education. He was even offered to be the coach of India’s national

team in 1963 and in 1969 finally had his chance to coach the national team for

the Asian Basketball Championship where the Philippines finished in 3rd.42

42 Dingle, A. (1972). Lauro Mumar. In J. Afable (Ed.), Philippine sports greats. Mandaluyong: Man Publishers.

D. Other significant players: Ocampo, Rabat and Tolentino

Other prominent players during the golden age of basketball were

Edgardo Ocampo, Francisco Rabat and Mariano Tolentino.

5’7” Edgardo "Ed" Ocampo donned the blue and white jersey during his

college days. He later played for the YCO AC. He represented the Philippines in

four Olympic basketball games that were held in 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972.

He was inducted in the first basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 along the likes of

Carlos Loyzaga and Ambrosio Padilla. He died in 1999.

A true blue Atenean, Francisco Rabat was educated in Ateneo de Davao

then continued his studies in Ateneo de Manila. Having come from Mindanao

gained him the monicker “The Rajah of Rebound”. He donned the national

colors in the 1954 World Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

where the Philippine team finished 3rd. At 18 years old, he was the youngest

player in the 12-man squad. He later on became the town mayor of Mati and a

governor of Davao Oriental. In 2002, he narrowly missed being selected in the

basketball Hall of Fame. He died in 2008.

Considered one of the tallest in those times, 6’2” Caviteno Mariano

Tolentino was a product of the Jose Rizal College. Records give due credit for

Tolentino’s skill, discipline and dedication43. He then continued playing for the

teams Chelsea, Prisco and Heacock. Adding to the list of his achievements, he

was a member of the 1952 and 1956 Olympic basketball team where the

Philippines finished 9th and 7th respectively overall. He also played in the

historic 1954 World Basketball Championship where the Philippine team placed

third. He was described as a “sparkplug”44 on that game, describing his

considerable contributions to the game. Adding to his impressive international

43 Henson, Hall of Fame rites tonight.

44 Sports Officials Grace Hall of Fame Rites Tonight.

experience were his three stints in the Asian games that resulted to three gold

medals. In 2002, he was posthumously inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

He died in 1998 because of a heart attack.

VI. The Golden Age of Philippine Basketball

One of the major reasons behind the emergence of basketball as the

country’s premier sport was due to its success in gaining recognition for the

country in major international competitions.45 As the Filipino basketball players

gained glory for their momentous wins against international competitors, so did

they gain admiration and popular support from their fellow Filipinos. The

interest of a large group of Filipinos was perhaps piqued at the kind of sport,

brand of play and winning ways the flag bearers displayed. Filipinos’

competency in basketball permeated the rest of the Filipinos’ minds. If those in

the national team can win several games, international competitions at that,

then an ordinary Filipino can too. This, propelling the popularity of basketball

among the Filipinos. In fact, the strong placing of Filipinos in international

competitions was one of the reasons why baseball, initially the most popular

sport in the Philippines, got overshadowed by basketball. 46 During the post war

period, there were no major international baseball tournaments that Filipino

baseball players could have shown their wares in. Up to now, the situation still

ensues. Baseball was struck from the list of events for the 2012 London

Olympics.

Success by Filipinos in the international basketball scene traces its

beginnings from the Far Eastern Games, now known as the Asian games. A total

of nine championships were successfully bagged by Filipino basketball players

in the years 1913,1915,1917,1919,1923,1925,1927,1930, and 1934.47 China

45 Antolihao, Can the Subaltern Play? Postcolonial transition and the making of basketball as the national sports in the Philippines, 10646 Ibid. 47 Jozsa, Global Sports: Cultures, Markets and Organizations, 76

won over the Philippines in the 1921 championship game, breaking the latter’s

consecutive wins and domination of the games. During the 1920s, Filipino Luis

Salvador scored a jaw-dropping 116 points in the said games.48 This is

impressive, considering the non-inclusion of the three-point system back then.

The formation of the Basketball Association of the Philippines and its

association with the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) in

1936 also helped bolster the Filipinos’ presence in the international basketball

arena. From then on, the Philippines gained recognition among the

international basketball circle and was able to join global basketball games and

tournaments. 49

Also in 1936 came the Olympic debut of the Philippine basketball team,

which eventually finished fifth in Berlin, Germany. In fact, this performance is

particularly credited as the event that “trigerred a national frenzy” with regards

to basketball.50 This event is also credited to bringing about national unity51 by

imbibing a common passion and sense of achievement among the Filipinos. In

the international arena, the respectable finish of the Filipino ballers served as a

publicity52 to the Philippine government in the international scene owing to the

fact that it was only two years since the Philippine Commonwealth was set up.

The impressive finish of the Filipino team in this Olympic games, along with

basketball’s popularity in the collegiate level, influenced the spread of

basketball to the rest of the population.

For the results and other data regarding the Philippines’ performance in

the Olympic basketball games, refer to Table 2.

Table 2- The Philippine’s Olympics Basketball Results, Selected Years

Olympi Ran Game Countries Countries the Notable Gold

48Ibid, 8149Ibid, 77. 50 Antolihao, Can the Sub-Altern Play, 96. 51 Ibid, 109. 52 Ibid, 107.

cs year k of s Won/Games Played

Defeated by the Philippines

Philippines Lost To

Players Medallist

1936 5th 4/5 Estonia, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay

United States Ambrosio Padilla

United States

1948 12th 4/8 Iraq (102-30), Korea, China, Argentina

Chile, Belgium, Peru

Lauro Mumar

United States

1952 9th 3/5 Israel, Hungary, Canada

Argentina, Brazil

Carlos Loyzaga, Mariano Tolentino

United States

1956 7th 4/8 Thailand, Japan, France, Chile

United States, Uruguay, Chile, Bulgaria

Carlos Loyzaga, Mariano Tolentino

United States

1960 11th 4/8 Spain, Puerto Rico, Bulgaria (by default), Mexico

Poland, Uruguay, Hungary, France

Edgardo Ocampo

United States

1964 6th 4/9 Malaysia, Republic of China, Thailand, South Korea

Mexico, Indonesia, Cuba, Australia, Canada

Edgardo Ocampo

United States

Source: Inigo, 2007

The 1936 Olympic basketball team was coached by Dionisio “Chito” Calvo

while Ambrosio Padilla was team captain. The Philippines won four of its five

games, and lost only to the United States with the score of 56-23. Controversy

actually surrounds the Philippines’ fifth place finish owing to the fact that the

Philippines had a better record than third placer Mexico. The Philippines also

beat Mexico with the score of 32-30. 53 During the 1940s, the Philippines

participated in the Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Shere games. 54

Basketball became extremely huge not only in the collegiate level but on

the national level as well. Aside from the participation of the Philippines in

international competitions, there was also the strong presence of local

53 Inigo, What sparked RP mania in basketball54 Jozsa, Global Sports, 81

commercial leagues in the Philippines that further enhanced the popularity of

basketball in the country. The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic

Association (MICAA) was a commercial league established in 1938 by Dionisio

“Chito” Calvo, a former Olympic basketball coach. Different companies from

various business sectors made up the league, which was why players originally

included employees with day jobs. Since the players were initially company

employees, the NCAA was then viewed as the glamour league.

When the MICAA began recruiting more and more athletes from

collegiate leagues, it eventually became a semi-professional league wherein the

country’s best basketball athletes joined. Athletes graduating from the NCAA

would then join the MICAA but many athletes also played in both leagues

simultaneously. Letran’s Mumar and San Beda’s Loyzaga who were rivals in the

collegiate league were even teammates at one point in the MICAA.

Aside from the participation of the Philippines in international

competitions, there was also the strong presence of local commercial leagues in

the Philippines that further enhanced the popularity of basketball in the

country. In 1938, the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association

(MICAA) was established. Initially, this league had players who were mainly

employees with day jobs but in eventually evolved into a semi-professional

league. 55 Here, the collegiate players of lore played.

The dominance of the Philippine team in basketball continued on to the

1950’s where the Philippines bagged first place four consecutive times from

1951-1962 in the Asian Games. Disappointing finishes were recurrently held by

the Philippines after the said years without a single championship reclamation

to date.

55 Ibid, 77.

Table 3 – Basketball Results in the Asian Games, 1951-2006

Source: Antolihao, 2009, 196

The Philippines also figured prominently in the 1954 FIBA World

Championships wherein the basketball team finished 3rd overall. This is the best

result an Asian country has ever achieved as of time of writing, considering that

the 2010 World Championship Games is currently underway. (See Table 4).

Caloy Loyzaga was even the third leading scorer of the tournament.

Table 3 - World Basketball Championships Men’s Division Medal Table, 1950-2006

Gold Silver Bronze TotalUnited States of America 3 3 4 10

Soviet Union 3 3 2 8Yugoslavia 3 3 2 8

Brazil 2 2 2 6Yugoslavia (Serbia and

Montenegro)2 - - 2

Argentina 1 1 - 2Spain 1 - - 1Russia - 2 - 2Greece - 1 - 1Chile - - 2 2

Croatia - - 1 1Philippines - - 1 1Germany - - 1 1

Source: FIBA, 2007, 12; FIBA, 2009.

B. Decline of the Golden Age

With the country's numerous achievements in basketball during the

1950's, Philippine basketball was considered the undisputed number one in

Asia. Filipino supremacy in the sport was further exemplified in other Asian

teams’ press statements wherein they admitted to have little chance for victory

because of Carlos Loyzaga’s presence in the Philippine team56. But in the

1960’s, the Philippines was on its way to losing its reign on Asian basketball.

After winning the Asian Games for 4 straight years from 1951-1962, it only

placed 6th in the 1966 Asian Games and hasn’t won the gold since 1962.

Neither did the Philippine national team qualify for the 1967 and 1970 World

Championships as well as the 1964 Olympics. There are a few possible reasons

for why the Philippines lost its supremacy in its most popular sport. The decline

of the country’s golden age in basketball could be attributed to the loss of key

players in the sport; the perfect example being the “Big Difference” himself,

Carlos Loyzaga. Loyzaga retired in 1964, the same year the Philippines did not

qualify for the Olympics. The country also failed to regain the gold in the Asian

Games after Loyzaga retired. Another reason could be the professionalization of

the sport in local leagues.

The MICAA was the most popular basketball league for almost 40 years

and although the athletes in the league were already playing full-time, it was

still an amateur league. When certain member teams aspired to professionalize

the league and form the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), it became

more difficult to recruit players for the national team because professional

athletes were not allowed to join57. And because professional basketball offered

steady income, it became the more popular choice for athletes. Political

problems occurring in the country also affected international performance. In

1963, the Philippines were to host the World Championships but was suspended

56 Celis, E, Carlos Loyzaga In J. Afable (Ed.), Philippine sports greats.57 Antolihao, The Hollywoodization of Hoops In Can the Sub-Altern Play

by FIBA when then President Diosdado Macapagal refused teams from

communist countries entry to the country. Although the Philippines still remain

a competitive force in Asian basketball, it has not regained the dominance it

once had and continues to struggle to achieve similar feats in competing with

the rest of the world.

VII. Conclusion

The introduction of basketball to the Filipinos became an indirect

medium for the country’s Americanization during the American colonial period.

A number of American values came with the sport including teamwork,

discipline, obedience and respect. Basketball was also perceived as the most

modern among the other team sports that the US brought to the Philippines.

The sport, therefore, can be linked to the Americans’ attempt to instill

democratic values, as well as a desire for modernization, in the minds of the

Filipinos since both democracy and basketball have those similar qualities. This

holds true not only for the players themselves but for the spectators as well.

One drawing power that the sport had was its modernity, something the rising

middle class found appealing. But its availability to the masses was a huge

factor in the sport’s increasing popularity. The general public who had interest

in the sport was not limited to simply watching amateur and professional

players on the court but could also gather themselves and enjoy the sport as

well. With the presence of American soldiers stationed in various cities, locals

also had the chance to enhance their skills. This could have also aided in

preparing future members of the national team in facing the much-taller

westerners in international competitions.

The sport’s popularity grew even more once leagues were established at

the collegiate level. Colleges and universities were keen on building winning

teams and recruiting the best athletes. Basketball scholarships became a way

for athletes to play the game they love without giving up their education, unlike

athletes who drop out of high school to join amateur leagues like the MICAA.

Collegiate basketball during the time of the Americans provided the Filipinos an

opportunity to showcase their skills and to prepare them for international

competition. Most of the team members selected in national teams were key

players in their respective schools in the collegiate league. This highlights the

importance of an athlete’s performance in the collegiate league as a deciding

factor in their future after playing collegiate ball. The different rivalries that

emerged then helped bring out the full potential of the best basketball players

in the land.

Players such as Carlos Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar, who were once rivals

in the NCAA, formed the core of Philippine national teams that represented the

Philippines well in various events such as the Olympics and the World

Championships. Likewise, distinguished renaissance men and Ateneans,

Ambrosio Padilla & Luis Lorenzo, were also contributors to international

acclaim. By doing well in these competitions, not only did they bring honor to

their country, but they also showed to the rest of the world what the Filipino

people are capable of given the proper guidance and opportunity, something

that can be credited to the country’s peaceful and harmonious acceptance of

Americanization. Especially after the war, when the morale of the country was

at its lowest, basketball became a way of revival, reaffirming the Filipinos’

sense of patriotism.

Although the Philippines may have lost the grandeur it once had in

basketball, the country remains a tough competitor in the sport and the effects

of Americanization through basketball can still be seen in the present. The local

professional league patterns itself with the NBA with regards to rules and

regulations. And while local basketball seems to have evolved with its own

culture and style that is uniquely Filipino, basketball in the U.S. still has a

significant hold on the country. Players from the NBA are idolized not only by

local athletes but by the general public as well. The response is tremendous

when players such as Kobe Bryant visit the country. A concrete representation

of the presence of the influence of American basketball, is the recruitment of

imports in the local professional league. Ironically, the Philippines also had its

own contributions to American basketball. When the PBA introduced the three-

referee system as a means to prevent on-court trouble caused by extreme

competition and rivalries, the NBA also adopted this rule a few years later.

Another contribution, albeit indirect, was the introduction of the shot clock in

international basketball rules thanks to the infamous “Big Freeze” that occurred

in the 1954 Asian Games final in the held in the Philippines.

In conclusion, the role of basketball in the American educational system

not only allowed the general public to enjoy the sport but was also a huge factor

that contributed to the Philippines’ success in international competitions.

Collegiate basketball programs, players, and rivalries served as opportunities

for local players to stand out and become eventual members of teams sent

overseas to represent the country in various competitions, where they proved to

be essential to the Philippine attempt at international cage supremacy. Even

though at present, our international records remain dismal, there was once a

time in our basketball history that we were at par with the world’s best.

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From Aegis 1959

Aegis 1959, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila. Pp. 91-98

Division of Writing

I. Introduction - Group

II. The Beginnings of Physical Education and Basketball during the Pre-War

Period – Analyn Yap and Amanda Uy

III. Collegiate Basketball

a. Analyn Yap

b. Amanda Uy

IV. Collegiate Basketball Rivalries

a. Ateneo vs. La Salle – Quinito Sanchez

b. San Beda vs. Letran – Nicole Severino

c. Ateneo vs. San Beda – Quinito Sanchez

V. Case Studies: Distinguised Collegiate Players

a. Ambrosio Padilla and Luis Lorenzo – Analyn Yap

b. Caloy Loyzaga – Nicole Severino

c. Lauro Mumar – Nicole Severino

d. Other players: Rabat, Ocampo & Tolentino – Crystal Padilla and Analyn

Yap

VI. The Golden Age of Philippine Basketball – Crystal Padilla and Nicole Severino

VII. Conclusion - Group