37. THE 1972 PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL TEAM TO THE MUNICH OLYMPICS

At the 20^th Olympiad held in Munich, Germany, the Philippine Basketball Team proved that it was still the best in Asia when it placed 13^th overall after the controversy-tainted finals between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. The Soviet Union snapped the gold medal streak of U.S.A. when it won by a point (51-50) , relegating the Americans to 2nd place, with Cuba placing 3rd. 

The Philippines team suffered defeats against Poland (90-75), Puerto Rico (92-72), West Germany (93-74), Yugoslavia (117-76), Soviet Union (111-80), and Italy (101-81). Undettered despite overwhelming odds, the Philippines won its games against Senegal (78-71), Egypt (2-0, by default) and perennial foe Japan (82-73).

Members of the 1972 Philippine Olympic Basketball Team.

WILLIAM "Bogs" ADORNADO. (b. 26 May 1951). UST college basketball player. Joined Crispa Redmanizers as rookie, achieving star status at the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) All-Filipino Tournament. 3-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (1975, 1976, and 1981). Named among the PBA Greatest Players. Inducted in the 2005 PBA Hall of Fame.

NARCISO C. BERNARDO. (b. 27 Jul. 1937 / d. 23 Dec. 2008). Played in the MICAA for Ysmael Steel, Crispa and Mariwasa. Coached the Crispa 400s in the MICAA and later the Crispa Redmanizers in the Philippine Basketball Association, leading the team to the 1984 PBA First All-Filipino Conference championship. Served as councilor in Mandaluyong City, but failed to finish term due to his death.

RICARDO "Joy" CLEOFAS. (b. 9 Feb. 1951). Played college basketball for Ateneo which became NCAA champions in 1969 with team mates Marte Samson, Chito Afable, Jun Ross and Francis Arnaiz. Played for YCO Painters at the MICAA after graduation. Known for his accurate distance shooting and passing. Member of the first Youth team in 1970 that won the first ABC Youth Tournament. Post-Olympics, plated at the 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation and the 1974 World Basketball Confederation in Puerto Rico. Entered the PBA pro league playing for Tanduay.

DANNY Z. FLORENCIO: (b. 5 Sep. 1947/d. 25 Feb. 2018). Nicknamed "Daredevil Danny", original "Skywalker". Played with UST Glowing Goldies (1965–1967). Member, PH Team, which beat South Korea 83-10 for the 1967 ABC Championships won through his last minute 4-points scoring thus earning his 1^st Olympic slot in Mexico. Placed 2^nd  in 1971 ABC Championships, qualifier to the 1972 Munich Olympics.  Played with YCO Painters and Crispa at the MICAA. Turned pro in PBA with the U/Tex Wranglers, the Toyota Super Corollas, 7-Up, and the Galerie Dominique Artistas (1975-83) . Ranked 11th in the all-time scoring plateau with 5,791 points, 8TH in scoring average, and 13th all-time in steals. Named PBA's Greatest Players (2000).  PBA Hall of fame inductee (2007). Retired and settled in San Francisco, California, until his death from a stroke in 2018.

JAIME "Jimmy" MARIANO. (b. 19 Apr. 1941). Known as “Mr. Cool”, the 6'3 1/2" Malabon native first played for the UE Red Warriors team under Coach Baby Dalupan. Later played in the MICAA for Ysmael Steel, Meralco and Concepcion Industries.  2-Time Olympian: 1968 Mexico, and 1972 Munich where he was the country’s flag bearer. Team captain of the national basketball team in the 1974 FIBA World Cup. Began his coaching career in 1981 as coach of  Presto Tivolis and  Red Bull in the Philippine Basketball League. Led Presto to the 1990 All-Filipino championship. Also had coaching stints with University of the East Red Warriors ( 2 UAAP Championship titles).

ROSALIO "Yoyong" MARTIREZ. (b. 9 Sep.1946/ d. 18 June 2024). “Sultan of Swipe. Originally from Samar, moved to Cebu where he played for Southwestern University before being recruited by the San Miguel Beermen. 2-time PBA champion, Guard of PH Team in  the 1972 Munich Games, a World Basketball Championship player in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a Gold Medalist in the 1973 ABC and 1970 Asian Youth tournaments. Saw action in MICAA from 1972-1982. In late 70s, forayed into acting, appearing on TV shows like “Iskul Bukol”, “John en Marsha”, “Pepito Manaloto”, among others. Debuted in the 1985 film “Ma'am May We Go Out? With Tito, Vic & Joey. Served as councilor and later vice mayor of Pasig.

ROGELIO "Tembong" MELENCIO. (b. 27 Sep. 27, 1939/ d. 1995).Tondo-born Melencio played for the Yutivo Opels and for Concepcion Industries in the MICAA. PH Team player at the ABC Championships in Seoul (1967)  and Manila (1973) where the Philippines won Gold. This Munich Olympians was also a key member of the Pesta Sukan Basketball Team. Tragically stabbed and killed in a bar room brawl in 1995.

 EDGARDO "Ed" OCAMPO. (b. 5 Oct. 1938/d. 19 Jul. 1992). Captain of the 1972 PH Olympic basketball team. Son of renown architect Fernando H. Ocampo and Lourdes Luciano. Initially played football for Ateneo, his first interest. Played in Korea and Spain as PH national team member and was named “Mr. Football” at age 17 in 1956. After a football injury, joined the Ateneo basketball team, leading to 2 back-to-back wins at the NCAA in 1957-58. Joined the YCO Painters in the MICAA and became part of its championship teams. Member, PH Basketball team (1959-1972). Placed 8th at the 1959 FIBA World Championship;  Member of 3 PH teams that won 3 ABC championships (1960, 1963, 1967). 3-time Olympian: 1960, 1968, and 1972. Had a long coaching career from 1975-1990. Honors: Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame (1982), National Basketball Hall of Fame (1999), PBA Hall of Fame (2013).

MANUEL “Manny” PANER. (b. 17 May 1949).A Cebuano, 6’ 2”, this Commerce student of University of Visayas, was renown for his strong defense and hook shots. Played in the MICAA for the San Miguel Braves. 1970 Most Outstanding Rebounder of MICAA. Named in the first Mythical Team of the 1975 PBA inaugural season. Left Royal Tru-Orange in 1978 for  Great Taste, after bagging a contract that paid him Php 8,000 a month, an unheard of sum at that time. Played briefly for CDCP Road Builders, but returned to San Miguel in 1982, until 1986. Named a member of the PBA's 25 Greatest Players (2000).  PBA Hall of Fame inductee (2007). Manny is married to actress Daisy Romualdez, father to 2 adopted daughters, Kristina and Danita.

ADRIAN “Jun” R. PAPA Jr. Played in the UAAP for the NU Bulldogs, and in the MICAA for Ysmael Steel Admirals and the Crispa-Floro Redmanizers . Joined Mariwasa in 1975  that played in the PBA, leading his team to 2^nd place in 1977 at the 1977 All-Filipino Conference championships. Named to PBA’s Mythical Five. His stint at the PBA spanned 6 seasons (1975–80).

 MARTE SAMSON. (b. 22 July 1951). Ateneo Blue Eagles ball player; 1969 NCAA champion. Gold medal, 1970 ABC Junior Championship (Now Called FIBA Asia U18 Championship), 1971 PH Team to the ABC tournament.  At age 21, the 6-footer Samson played first  for the Elizalde & Co. team at the MICAA. Had a 5-year stint at PBA  where he suited up as a member of the Painters,  Tanduay Distillery and Royal Tru Orangemen.

 FREDDIE WEBB. (b. 24 Nov. 1942). Schooled in San Beda, and Letran College (A.B. English) where he was a star player of the Letran Knights (1960–64). Played in the MICAA with the YCO Painters (1965–1975) and in the PBA with the Tanduay Rhum Makers (1976–78). Retired in 1978, and became PBA coach for YCO-Tanduay (1981–83) and Shell (1985). Also coached his alma mater Letran team in 1975. Joined politics as Pasay City councilor, 1971-78. Elected as congressman of Parañaque in 1987; Awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Congressman of the Year Award. Elected Senator in 1992. Became a Radio and TV personality as sportscaster, TV host and actor, appearing in the popular “Chicks to Chicks” opposite Nova Villa.

 *************

HEAD COACH IGNACIO RAMOS. Coach Ignacio "Ning" R. Ramos (b/?/ d. 22 Jun. 2012) played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the NCAA from 1949 -1950. Member of the Gold Medal winning  Philippine national basketball team at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, India. Coached the San Miguel Corporation teams in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

TEAM MANAGER DOMINGO YULO ITCHON. (1924–2004). MICAA president (1971-74), 2nd president of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Asia's first professional basketball league. Cum laude business administration graduate of the University of the East, CPA board topnotcher and Harvard University graduate. Controller of the Elizalde Group of Companies. Appointed team manager of the Elizalde-owned YCO Painters in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), serving for over 20 years. Itchon was also MICAA president from 1971-1974. Itchon also became team manager of four Philippines men's national basketball teams. Posthumously inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame on 8 Apr. 2007.

SOURCES:

THE FILIPINO ATHLETE, Vol. XXV, Sep-Oct 1972 issue.

Wallechinsky, David. The Complete Boof of the Olympics, Penguin Books, 1988. "Basketbal", pp. 178 

36. VIVENCIA SUBIDO, Champion Javelin Thrower of the '50s

VIVENCIA SUBIDO is a petite well-turned out athlete from Cebu Institute of Technology, known for its roster of nationally-ranked female athletes. At the 1954 2nd Asian Games in Manila, she reached the finals of the Women’s Javelin Throw and captured the only Bronze medal in that field event with a heave of 123 feet 2 inches. Two Japanese women were ahead of her, Akiko Kurihara (Gold, 144.5 ft. ) and Yasuko Inden (Silver, 139.63 ft.). Her team mate, Francisca Sanopal, placed 5^th (118.67 ft.), and she later shifted to the 80 m. low hurdles that allowed her to gain entry to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

In two meets in Formosa in 1953, Subido won Gold medals in Tai Chung and Kao Hsiung. Thirteen years after, in the 1966 Bangkok Asiad, Marcelina Alonso duplicated her feat by winning Bronze in the same field event.

SOURCES: 

Progress Magazine, 1955 edition

Athletics at the 1954 Asian Games,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1954_Asian_Games

35. The Young Boxer Dreamt of an “Anthony’s Day”: GOLDEN RECEPTION FOR A SILVER MEDALIST

When Anthony Villanueva arrived Tuesday afternoon last week, the most audible sounds that greeted him as he inched his way through the streets from Pasay to Manila to Quezon City on an open Thunderbird convertible were the giggles of admiring girls.

Anthony, the 19 year old featherweight sensation, many a girl sighed , was good looking and remarks like “His cheeks are rosy,” “He looks like a movie actor,” “Simpatiko” and “Guwapong-guwapo” were heard from the crowd. One male commented that if he were not good looking, there would not be that many people (the crowd was 15-deep in Escolta).

But Anthony was more than good-looking. He was humble in victory and his oft-bowed head betrayed his extreme shyness.

A month before Anthony’s departure for the World’s Olympic at Tokyo, Anthony told his father Cely Villanueva: “Itay, there was a day for Elorde and a day for Gemma, but I pray that when I return home, there shall also be an Anthony’s day.”

Anthony’s first words to his after upon meeting him in the airport were: “Itay, your Olympic record was broken.” Cely’s answer to Anthony was, ”Son, I have always prayed for your victory. Your Inay and I, and the whole nation are proud of you.”Anthony was speechless the first moments he saw his father and mother. All he could do was cry on his mother’s shoulder.

According to Gene Puyat, whom Anthony calls “Tito” and sometimes “Mr. Paymaster,” after Anthony won the silver medal he was just himself again---very shy, very modest.

 Anthony  is a music lover. He hopes to organize his own combo. He said if he can help it, he does not want to turn professional in boxing. “I want to retire and continue my studies in fine arts.”

 In his quarters at Tokyo, Anthony was once seen by Gene Puyat shadow boxing to the tune of martial music. During his fight at the World’s Olympics, Anthony was not thinking of the bronze or the silver medals. Gene Puyat said he simply fought like the devil to win. Before the final bout in Tokyo, Anthony was even seen in his room, at the Hotel Imperial kneeling in prayer.

Anthony has been offered movie contracts through his father Cely. If Anthony consents, he is schedules to appear in a movie entitled “Pamatay—Kaliwa at Kanan.” For the “Anthony Villlanueva Story”, he has a standing offer of P100,000.

Anthony said that “Tito Gene,” like his Itay, is also deeply religious. “All of us in the boxing team, recited the Rosary and the Lord’s Prayer before training.” Gene Puyat, that he required his boys to pray and sing the National Anthem before they trained or fought in competition.

“We observed struct discipline. This applied to the coach and trainers as weel. Anyone who broke a rule was out.” Puyat also said: “We had to pray. My responsibility was enormous. Anything can happen in boxing. The lives of no less than six boxers were at stake. To me, their safety is my great concern.”

Puyat sent no less than three years training his boxers. This involved time, money, and effort. “In boxing, money is imperative. The boys trained very hard and they needed a special diet. Tuyo and tinapa cannot make them strong. We have to supplement their intake with special diet such as steak, milk, and eggs. I have appealed to my friends for funds and I am grateful they responded.”

Cely reiterated his boast (not an empty one) about Anthony being an ideal boxer. Cely, who likes to dabble in verses, extols Anthony’s ability by quoting the late sports authority Grantland Rice: “To be a champion boxer, one must have the endurance of a marathoner, the strength of a Hercules, the grace and ease of a dancer (which is Anthony’s master), the precision of a baseball player (which Anthony possesses), but above all, he must possess a super abundance of that mysterious quality known as the fighting heart.”

Anthony, despite his twice cut eyebrow, fought to the finish in the final bout in Tokyo. Anthony’s trainer and second,”Aling Enriquez, said it was not true he told Anthony to hold his punches in the first round in his bout with the Russian. “In fact, “ he said, “I told him to go after the Russian from the very start when I noticed Anthony’s punches made him groggy. But unfortunately, our opponents in Tokyo were not the boxers, but the judges.”

Anthony may never turn pro but many will not forget the days when he brought joy and pride to millions of despairing Filipinos who were getting accustomed to news about disastrous defeats in Tokyo.

A humble Anthony coming home was a real champion, in and out of the ring. 

SOURCE:

F. M. Caliwag, The Sunday Times Magazine, 15 September 1964, pp. 26-28