spot_img
27.7 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Genato of legendary ‘54 PH cage team honored

- Advertisement -

Antonio Genato described himself as an emotional and hot-headed player during the 1954 World Basketball Championships for men when it was held in Brazil.

Genato of legendary ‘54 PH cage team honored
Antonio Genato: Grateful for the honor

Now 91, the last surviving member of the Philippine national men’s basketball team that bagged a bronze medal in the worlds back then, recalled two instances when he blew his top over the officiating.

“I disagreed with the officiating back then,” said Genato during an online honoring ceremony held to commemorate members of that fabled 1954 national squad at the Bahay Alamat in Valenzuela City.

Bahay Alamat is located at Barangay Maysan in Bahayang Pag-Asa, featuring murals and photos of the 1954 team that was skippered by Lauro ‘The Fox’ Mumar.

The national team in the 1936 the Berlin Olympics, the 1973 all-Filipino squad that claimed the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship and the 2014 version snatched spot in the FIBA World Cup after a 36-year-absence, also have places in the gymnasium.

- Advertisement -

The Philippines’ bronze finish in that 1954 worlds was the highest honor that the country reached in the international cage scene.

Genato, who also saw action in the 1952 and 1954 Summer Olympics, recalled how he and Carlos Loyzaga ran after the referee when Team Philippines lost to host Brazil, 62-99.

Then, he talked about the time when he confronted the captain of the Uruguay squad over dirty plays before beating them, 67-63, in the battle for the bronze, also during the 1954 worlds.

Despite the ups and downs that he experienced in dealing with officiating, whether good or bad, Genato said he is grateful that his time with the national squad has received recognition.

“That’s why I now thank you for your dedication and interest in the game of basketball,” said Genato to the supporters of the enshrinement and honoring rites, hosted by House Committee on Youth and Sports Chairman Eric Martinez of Valenzuela City.

Markers were also placed in Genato’s honor at the entrance of the gymnasium, while his no. 13 jersey, was put on display on a wall.

Martinez said Genato is the first athlete to be honored in the venue, and more will follow, like Loyzaga —their next honoree.

“For us Filipinos, we must have a sense of history in the game of basketball,” said Martinez, who recalled of his father’s stories on basketball heroes like Danny Florencio, Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim. 

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles