Hall of Fame cagers share thoughts on Olympic-seeking RP five

Three of the fabled members of the 1954 Philippine men’s basketball team that finished third in the World Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro had shared their thoughts on the Smart-Gilas squad vying for an Olympic basketball spot. Together, they gave mixed reactions on the well-funded, well-traveled team handled by FIBA Asia Champion coach Rajko Toroman. The Smart Gilas Philippine team is embarking on a three-year program with the ultimate goal of returning to the Olympics two years from now in London. “I have my doubts," said Antonio Genato, when asked if the country’s top amateur cagers have a good chance of earning a spot in the Olympics. The last time the country made it to the Olympic basketball scene was during the 1972 Munich Olympics when the team was handled by Ning Ramos and bannered by Bogs Adornado, Danny Florencio, Adriano Papa, Tembong Melencio, Ed Ocampo and Manny Paner among others. Genato, 81, played point guard for the 1954 RP squad that include Carlos Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar as among the more notable players. Genato said that he had talked with Toroman about the Smart-Gilas team. “He believes that we have a good chance. I haven’t seen them play but I promised him that I’m going to visit once they return to Manila and tell to him what I think," said Genato. Genato mentioned one glaring difference about today’s players from the cagers of yesteryears. “Today’s players lack the basics as compared to when we played," said Genato. Napoleon Flores, another member of that storied squad, believes otherwise. “They just have to work hard. We’re a small team. They just have to try hard for the country, but I have high hopes for them that they can make it," said Flores. Flores, 78, added that it was indeed an honor to play for the country so it’s their responsibility to be prepared. “Some of the players today are not disciplined. Before, we don’t smoke and we take care of our bodies because we know we’re in for a tough grind when competition comes," said Flores. The 1954 RP team was honored as one of the inductees in the first class of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame joining the likes of Loyzaga, professional boxers Gabriel “Flash" Elorde, Pancho Villa and Ceferino Garcia, amateur boxers Jose “Cely" Villanueva and his son Anthony Villanueva, tracksters Miguel White and Simeon Toribio and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso. Aside from Loyzaga, Mumar and Genato, also included in that team were Bayani Amador, Rafael Barretto, Florentino Bautista Jr., Benjamin Francisco, Ramon Manulat, Mariano Tolentino, Francisco Rabat and Ponciano Saldaña. Herminio Silva was the coach. The team defeated Paraguay and lost to Brazil in the preliminaries in Group A but it was enough for the squad to advance to the quarterfinal round. In the next round, the RP cagers beat Israel, Canada, France, Uruguay and Formosa (now Chinese-Taipei) to take the bronze medal. Their losses in the quarterfinal round came from eventual champion United States and silver winner Brazil. Flores said that he was nervous about receiving the award as he was joined by Bautista, Genato and Barredo and relatives of his teammates in receiving the plum from Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping, Chief Justice Renato Puno and Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) president Teddyvic Melendres of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “I really didn’t expect this award. It was also the first time I saw my teammates again," said Flores. Two years after the bronze-medal win, Genato would once again play for the country, this time in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, where he competed against the United States team composed of Bill Russell and KC Jones among others. Russell and Jones eventually became the stars for the Boston Celtics, who established a dynasty in the National Basketball Association, winning 10 championships in a span of 11 seasons. “When we played against the United States, coach Leo (Prieto) put our second five in our starting line-up because there was no way we can beat the United States," said Genato. The Philippines lost, 121-53, in that game but went on to finish seventh in that Olympiad. - RCJ, GMANews.TV