Loyzaga family recives the award. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Caloy Loyzaga may have passed away, but his contributions to the sport of basketball will definitely be remembered.
“The Big Difference” on Saturday was given the distinct recognition of being the first Olympism awardee by the Philippine Sportswriters Association and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
The Loyzaga family, led by Caloy’s widow Vickie, received the award from POC president Peping Cojuangco, International Olympic Committee representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, and former IOC representative Frank Elizalde.
“Our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the award for my dad. We want to thank PSA headed by Mr. Reira Mallari. The POC under the leadership of Mr. Jose Cojuangco. The PSC under the leadership of Mr. Richie Garcia, and everyone who are present here today, and all our friends from the media who followed my dad and supported him all the way,” thanked Chito Loyzaga, who was together with siblings Joey, Princess, Teresa and Bing.
Speaking in front of the night’s awardees, athletes and mediamen, Chito asked to continue his father’s legacy of inspiring others.
“If there was one thing that he would want all of us to remember is whatever his achievements were, he just wants to be an inspiration to the next generation,” said Chito.
An icon in every sense of the word, Loyzaga starred in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic teams.
His biggest moment came when he led the national team to a third place in the 1954 World Basketball Championship, the only time an Asian team have made the podium in the said event, and even landed in the tourney’s all-star five.
Though just standing at 6-foot-3, he was a dominant center which led the Philippines to four straight gold medals in the Asian Games since its inception in 1951, and was a key cog in the first two stagings of the Asian Basketball Championship in 1960 and 1963.
Loyzaga called it a career in 1964 after coaching YCO in MICAA and UST in the UAAP. He also took his act in the PBA, calling the shots for U-Tex (1975 to 1976) and Tanduay (1977 to 1979).
Loyzaga passed on last January 27. He was 83.
