Caloy Loyzaga officially enshrined in FIBA Hall of Fame

FIBA formally enshrined Philippine basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga in the organization’s Hall of Fame during a special event to cap Day 1 of the FIBA World Congress on Wednesday night at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay.

Fellow former Philippine basketball stars Chito and Joey Loyzaga and veteran actress Bing Loyzaga received the FIBA Hall of Fame award on behalf of their father, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 85.

Caloy Loyzaga was the main man of the Philippine team’s 1954 delegation to the FIBA World Cup in Rio De Janeiro where they finished with the bronze, the best finish by an Asian country in tournament history.

“These young men were the first to represent the ideals and aspirations of our young nation on the global sporting stage,” Chito Loyzaga described his father’s squad in his acceptance speech.

Loyzaga, though, added that he hopes his father’s legacy will go beyond what is seen inside a basketball court.

“Beyond his accolades, our family hopes that he will be remembered for his love of the game. Along with this, may he also be remembered for his honesty, integrity, sense of justice and fair play, simple dignity, quiet humility, and deep gratitude for having been given the opportunity to represent this country. These perhaps may set him apart from some of the athletes past and present,” he further said.

Caloy Loyzaga joined a group of 12 legendary players and coaches inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame headlined by National Basketball Association legend Yao Ming.

Completing the group of 12 are Penny Taylor (Australia), Yuko Oga (Japan), Katrina McClain (USA), Amaya Valdemoro (Spain), Wlamir Marques (Brazil), Angelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano (Angola), Sony Hendrawan (Indonesia), Zurab Sakandelidze (Georgia), Valerie Garnier (France) and Alessandro Gamba (Italy). (PNA)