IN celebration of the country’s 100th year of participation in the Olympics, members of the last men’s basketball team that suited up in the Olympiad were feted in simple rites by fellow national players from legendary PBA franchises Toyota and Crispa.
Olympians Jimmy Mariano, Yoyong Martirez, and Marte Samson represented the Philippine team during the event hosted by one-time national team manager Dante Silverio at the Al Fresco Lounge and Legacy Art Gallery over the weekend.
Mariano served as flag bearer of that last national squad which saw action in the 1972 Munich Olympics where the country finished 13th among 16 participants.
William ‘Bogs’ Adornado and former Senator Freddie Webb had also been invited by former PH team player and PBA first ever Rookie of the Year Gil Cortez, but failed to make it due to previous commitments.
Living Legend Robert Jaworski meanwhile, was represented by son, Pasig City Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski.
Other members of the 1972 Olympics team but were not present include Ricardo 'Joy' Cleofas, Manny Paner, and the late Narciso Bernardo, Danny Florencio, Rogelio 'Tembong' Melencio, Edgardo Ocampo, and Adriano 'Jun' Papa. Coach was Ignacio 'Ning' Ramos and team manager was Domingo Itchon, who later became president of the PBA.
Philippines' participation in Olympics
The Philippines first saw action in the Olympics during the 1924 Paris Games behind a sole entry, trackster David Nepomuceno. It made its debut in basketball in the 1936 Olympiad with a team led by legendary coach Dionisio Calvo, finishing fifth.
Martirez, 72, spoke on behalf of the team, stressing how mini-reunions involving former national team members help basketball fans of today get reconnected with the past.
Yoyoy confusion
He even cited himself for some time being mistaken by people for the late novelty singer-composer Yoyoy Villame.
“Yan o, si Yoyoy Villame. Di ba si Yoyoy Villame ka?,” Martirez recalls how people usually recognized him.
The player-turned actor-comedian would jokingly belt out Villame’s signature song ‘Butsikik’ in reply.
“O kita ninyo si Yoyoy (Villame) iyan,” people would answer him back.
The gathering also served as birthday party for the 6-foot-4 Mariano, who turned 83 last April 19. He was joined by former Toyota players Ompong Segura, Oscar Rocha, and Rollie Marcelo, along with former Ginebra and Shell coach Arlene Rodriguez.
The Crispa quartet of Atoy Co, Freddie Hubalde, and first timers Padim Israel and Tito Varela were also present, along with Toyota counterparts Ed Cordero, Ulysses Rodriguez, Ed Camus, and Nic Bulaong.
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