Our need for a national hoop team

Most countries have football to go crazy about while the Philippines has basketball. This may seem odd in a world that goes nuts over the “Beautiful Game” whether it’s European club play, the Asian tournaments or the World Cup. There’s football passion almost anywhere in the globe and most don’t seem to comprehend why we’re more bananas over basketball.

History reveals that our early basketball success stirred this love affair. Our triumphs in the Far Eastern Games, Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and the ABC Tournament (forerunner of the Fiba Asia) contributed to the belief that the Filipino baller is Asia’s best and among the finest in the world. No harm in that as time and again, Filipino basketball teams were feared and respected in the same vein.

When circumstances and contexts compelled the formation of the PBA in 1975, the country’s international play suffered as pro players were disallowed. It wasn’t completely bleak though as well-coached amateur squads of Ron Jacobs and Joe Lipa continued to reap laurels.

Eventually, a national team with pros was allowed in the 1990 Asian Games. The Robert Jaworski-coached team finished second to China. More teams with professional players followed, sometimes with crews that included an outstanding amateur.

The country has yet to win the Fiba Asia again, coming close twice with runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2015. The last team to win was the 1985 squad under Jacobs. We have not won the Asian Games gold since a string of four straight from 1951 to 1962. Aside from Jaworski’s team silver medal, Tim Cone’s 1998 Centennial team finished with a bronze.

This undying passion for the Philippine national basketball team has not ebbed or declined, even during the years it could not field pros. There is understandably a strong sentiment that the Philippines can reclaim its throne as Asia’s basketball king. The Asian challengers must be constantly reminded that the Philippines remains a premiere basketball nation.

Filipinos want to have a team they can all root for in the game that they have loved through the years. Filipino basketball lovers can be divided by club or school loyalties but the national team puts all of us on one side.

The odds may be daunting at times but a team is needed to keep the Philippine basketball challenge and fervor alive.