Philippines, 02 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The year PHL suffered defeat in basketball in Far Eastern Games


PhilBoxing.com




The law of averages finally caught up on the Philippines in basketball hostilities in the fifth staging of the Far Eastern Games in 1921 in Shanghai.

China, playing host to the three-nation sports meet for the second time since the Games opened shop in Manila in 1913, ended a long, eight-year exercise in futility by exacting a 30-27 victory in the sport considered as a private domain of the Filipinos, who, until that year, succeeded in protecting their lily-white record.

That reversal though would prove to be the first and only loss the Filipinos would suffer as they would continue running roughshod of the opposition the rest of the way until the triangular conclave would have folded up in 1934 to give way to the much bigger Asian Games.

But what made the setback bitter was it came at a time when the team had gone a massive revamp that, except from old mainstays Jovito Gonzales and Aurelio Buenconsejo, saw outstanding players from the NCAA dominating the line up ? prolific shooter Luis ?Lou? Salvador, Vicente Avena, Augusto Bautista and Mariano Sangle ? among others.

Also beefing up the national five were Joaquin Inigo, Elpidio Jose, Pedro Robles and Emiterio Montelibano.


Vicente Avena (left jumping) starred in basketball and volleyball in the Far Eastern Games.

Avena, Bautista and Buenconsejo, likewise, formed the core in defense in the Philippine volleyball squad?s silver medal wind up later in the Games.

Despite that defeat in basketball and volleyball and events were the Filipinos were considered weak as football and marathon, the Philippines still managed to cling into the general championship on the strength of their powerful showing in track and field, swimming, baseball and tennis.

Sprinter Fortunato Catalon continued his reign as Asia?s ?Fastest Man?, ruling for the third straight edition the 100-yard and 220-yard dashes besides anchoring, too, the country?s 4x200 relay to another gold medal win.

First place victories fashioned out by Vicente Lopez in 440-yard run, Ignacio Abad in the 120-yard hurdles, Juan Escamos in 220-yard hurdles, Antonino Alo in pole vault, Simon Santos in long jump and Juan Taduran in decathlon augured well in the Filipino runners, jumpers and throwers? remaining as kingpins of track and field.

Francisco Danao, anchored anew PH?s 4 x 440-yard relay crown, this time, in a team up with Vicente Malinao. Vicente Lopez and Severino Hipona.

Catalon connived with Eriberto Castillon, Osorio and Emilio Bucoy in defending the 800-yard relay.

Besides leaping to the gold mint in long jump, Santos, likewise, towed teammates Nicolas Machan and Generoso Rivera the silver and bronze medals in the event. In the same way that Lopez teamed up, too, with Malinao and Danao in the gold-silver-bronze medal finishes for the powerhouse Philippine athletics team.

Also finishing in the top three in their respective events were silver medallists Eriberto Castillon in 220-yard dash, Pedro Abiera in 220-yard hurdles, Moises Lucas in shot put, Eduardo Suella in high jump, Carlos Nicolas in discus throw and javelin throw.

Also contributing to the country?s medal harvest were bronze winners Nicolas Machan in 100-yard dash, Abiera I 120-yard hurdles, Pedro Zorilla in high jump, Antonino also in shot put, Moises Nicolas in discus throw and Javelin throw.

Swimmer Sotero Abreu matched Catalon?s three-gold spree in the pool ruling the 50-yard, 100-yard and 200-yard relay, the last while combining talents with Manuel Leyva, A. Mamerto, and Ong Sin Guan (Jack Warner).

Paulino Fernandez swam to a pair of gold medals, topping the 100-yard breaststroke and the 220-yard breaststroke. Ong Sin and Flora Vizconde scooped up a silver medal each in their respective event for swimming?s second consecutive overall titles.

Gil Fargas and Leandro Suarez combined efforts in copping the doubles titles in lawn tennis.

Besides Avena and Bautista, other members of the second-placer volleyball team were Claudio Angbengco, Florencio Artates, Aurelo Buenconsejo, Tomas de Castro, Nicanor Damian, Ramon Nolasco, Eriberto Obial, Leon Reyes, Miguel delos Reyes, Pedro Salameda, Engracio Santos, Arsenio Silva, Dominador Tejada, Luts Torres, Demetrio Valdomar and Pedro Yumul.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.