Caloy Loyzaga
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RYAN LIM
THE NCAA retired the jersey of the legendary Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga Saturday, with his children hoping “The Big Difference” will continue to inspire today’s players.
“Our father cherished his years as a student-athlete,” said former PBA star Chito Loyzaga after receiving his father’s framed No. 14 jersey at Mall of Asia Arena. “It is our family’s humble wish that his life on and off the court … [will continue] to motivate and inspire the next generation of NCAA athletes. We hope that you will remember him as one who loved his country above his personal ambition, and as one who loved his teammates as his own family.”
Loyzaga—a two-time Olympian who led the country to multiple gold-medal runs in the Fiba Asian Championship and Asian in the 1950s and 1960s—passed away last January. He was 85.