The long and winding road back to the elusive Asian cage throne
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.
PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL LOGO 1975-present
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.
1954 Philippine national basketball team
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.
2007 Pilipinas basketball team
Philippine National Basketball Team
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