MEMBERS of the Philippine team that saw action in the 1978 FIBA World Cup which Manila hosted have been invited to the opening ceremony of basketball’s biggest event that is returning to the country after 45 years.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al S. Panlilio confirmed an invite had been extended to the team which will be represented by some of the players and a member of the coaching staff when the world championship comes off the wraps Friday at the Philippine Arena.
READ: PH team almost pulls off surprise at 1978 World Cup
Among those expected to be in attendance are players Ramon Cruz, Padim Israel, Steve Watson, Pol Herrera, Marty Tierra, and Rico Acuna, along with assistant coach Nemie Villegas.
Other members of that Philippine team put together more than four decades ago were its late skipper Alex Clarino, Federico ‘Bokyo’ Lauchengco, Bernardo ‘Joy’ Carpio, Greg Gozum, Nathaniel Castillo, Edward Merced, Cesar Teodoro, and Cesar Yabut.
The late Nicanor Jorge, founder of BEST (Basketball Efficiency Scientific Training) Basketball was the head coach.
As host, the Philippines was seeded outright to the quarterfinals under the World Cup format back then, along with defending champion Soviet Union.
Cruz led the team in scoring with a 16.8 points average per game.
The Filipinos though, failed to advance past the quarterfinals and ended up at eight place.
Joining the 1978 Philippine team in the opening day limelight are the newly-inducted members of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Hall of Famers
The group includes NBA great Yao Ming (China), Penny Taylor (Australia), Yuko Oga (Japan), Katrina McClain (USA), Amaya Valdemoro (Spain), Wlamir Marques (Brazil), Angelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano (Angola), Sony Hendrawan (Indonesia), and the coaching duo of Valerie Garnier (France) and Alessandro Gamba (Italy).
Our very own Carlos Loyzaga and Zurab Sakandelidze (Georgia) were inducted posthumously.
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