The Comfort Rooms

Proud Pinoy Moment #4: Philippine Basketball Team (1910's-1960's)

Thanks to the American "control" in the early 20th Century, the Philippines was one of the stalwarts of World Basketball. In Asia, the Philippines won 9 out of the 10 Basketball competitions of the Far-Eastern Games, the athletic meet that pitted the Philippines with China, Empire of Japan, and Korea. During the inaugural basketball competitions at the Olympics held at Berlin in 1936, the Philippines placed 5th despite a 4-1 win-loss card. That 5th place finish is still the highest ever by any Asian country.

In the 1950's, the Philippines continued to dominate Asian basketball as the country won the basketball gold 4 out of 5 times up until the 1960's. With Carlos Loyzaga at the head of the team, the Philippine team was invicible in Asia.

In the 1954 World Championships held in Brazil, the Philippine team won the bronze and is still the ONLY Asian country to have placed that high on a world-level basketball competition.

Although a drastic decline started with the birth of the Philippine Basketball Association or PBA in the 1970's, efforts have been made in recent years to bring the Philippines back into regional and worldwide contention.

Nonetheless, the Philippine Basketball Team will always be a source of pride and inspiration for the Filipino people. For us. no gold is sweeter than a basketball gold.

Mabuhay ka, Philippine Basketball Team!

This post was written by: Jerick Baluyot

Jerick Baluyot is a professional blogger, writer and digital marketing specialist. Follow him on Twitter