Philippines, 26 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


From 1951 to 1962, Pinoy cagers lorded it over their counterparts in Asiad


PhilBoxing.com




In streaking to four straight Asian Games title wins in basketball from 1951 to 1962, the Philippines emerged victors in 23 games and losing only once.

The Filipinos had, in fact, emerged triumphant in 14 of their 16 outings in crowning themselves kings of the court in three consecutive times in 1951, 1954 and 1958 before suffering their first and only defeat at the hands of Republic of China (now Taiwan).

Our boys actually brought home our first Asiad diadem unscathed in New Delhi when the team, coached by Dionisio ?Chito? Calvo, hurdled all their four assignments ? 63-19, over Burma; 65-41, over Iran; 57-43, over Japan; and 66-36, over host india.

Calvo?s side was made up of team captain Antonio Martinez, Francisco Calilan, Andres de la Cruz, Genaro Fernandez, Jose Gochangco, Luis Lorenzo, Carlos Loyzaga, Lauro Mumar, Ignacio Ramos, Meliton Santos and Mariano Tolentino. Alternate was Luis Tabuena.

Hechanova came back four years later right here in Manila and skippered the Nationals this time composed of similarly come backing Loyzaga, Tolentino, Mumar and Ramos and reinforced by rookies Bayani Amador, Florentino Bautista, Jose Ma. Cacho, Napoleon Flores, Antonio Genato, Eduardo Lim, Ramon Manulat and Ponciano Saldana.

Handled by bench tactician Herminio ?Herr? Silva, the 1954 squad regaled their cheering countrymen in beating the enemies that came their way scoring an 82-63 triumph over Singapore; a whooping 105-41 outclassing of Cambodia; 84-45, of Korea; 65-40 of Japan; 76-52 again of Korea; and a closer 34-27 of Republic of China to keep the title back-to-back.

The 1954 Nationals were practically the same team the country sent to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the Second World Men?s Championship. Skippered by Mumar, the team finished third, an accomplishment no other Asian nation has matched up to the present time.

It was also in Brazil where Loyzaga earned the distinction of being named as member the world?s mythical squad, the first Asian to have been accorded the honor.

Not to be outdone, the Nationals that invaded Tokyo in 1958, likewise, went home undefeated in gifting the country its third straight diadem. Coached by Valentin ?Tito? Eduque, they rocked up four victories in-a-row before meeting their equal in the Taiwanese, who cut short he Filipinos? 13 straight win since 1951 with a 93-88 conquest of the three-time defending champion.

For the third consecutive Asian Games staging, Loyzaga and Tolentino made it in 1958 in Tokyo combining talents with second-timers Lim and Manulat, Emilio Achacoso, Kurt Bachmann, Carlos Badion, Loreto Carbonell, Francisco Lagarejos, Leonardo Marquicias, Constancio Ortiz Jr. Martin Urra, Antonio Villamor and Francis Wilson.

Jakarta, this year?s host of the 18th Asiad, happens to be where the fourth edition of the quadrennial meeting among the best and the finest athletes in the region and the site, too, where the Philippines last tasted the championship in 1962.

Loyzaga led the Filipinos? last stand as titleholder, teaming up with Bachmann, Engracio Arazas, Narciso Bernardo, Geronimo Cruz, Manuel Jicson, Alfonso Marquez, Roehl Nadufaa, Eduardo Pacheco, Cristobal Ramas, Alberto Reynoso, Edgardo Roque, Joselino Roa, Jose Laganson. Coach was Enrique Crame.

AS in the country?s first three title conquests, Loyzaga and company wiped out the opposition unbeaten, They beat Cambodia black and blue, 81-52; Thailand, 72-61; Korea, 84-68; host Indonesia, 107-74; repeated over Thailand, 108-73; Hong Kong 100-68; and Japan, 101-67.

The Filipinos came home without a medal of any color in 1966 in Bangkok where they landed in sixth the succeeding Games before a Robert Jaworski mentored all-PBA contingent cut short that medal drought 24 years later in 1990 in Beijing where they brought home the bronze medal.

Headed by Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim, who were both chosen members of he Asiad mythical selection, the team was also made up of Hector Calma, Rey Cuenco, Yves Dignadice, Ramon Fernandez, Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio and Zaldy Realubit.

Back in Bangkok in 1998, the PH Centennial squad made up of Andy Seigle, Jojo Lastimosa, Dennis Espino, Jun Limpot, Vergel Meneses, EJ Feihl, and Olsen Racela joining the star holdovers from the 1990 and 1994 teams Patrimonio, Caidic, Marlow Aquino, Johnny Abarrientos, and Kenneth Duremdes and handled by coach Tim Cone salvaged a bronze medal.

Photo: Samboy "Skywalker" Lim, member, of the 1990 PH Asian Games silver medalist team, who was also named to the Asiad Mythical selection along with Allan Caidic. File photo of EDDIE G. ALINEA.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH
    , Thu, 25 Dec 2025
  • 3-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight
    , Thu, 25 Dec 2025
  • Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 25 Dec 2025
  • Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico
    , Wed, 24 Dec 2025
  • The Pryce is right again!
    , Wed, 24 Dec 2025
  • Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025
  • O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Wed, 24 Dec 2025
  • Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025
  • Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON
    , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
    , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
    , Tue, 23 Dec 2025
  • Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions
    , Sun, 21 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Dec 2025
  • Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Hails RP Blu Boys’ Golden Triumph at the SEA Games
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH
    , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami
    , Sat, 20 Dec 2025
  • Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
    , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.