Pagpupugay 1954: Philippines back on track after beating Formosa in FIBA World

Editor's Note: #Pagpupugay1954 is a series paying tribute to the Philippine national basketball team to the 1954 FIBA World Championship, which featured the best-ever finish by an Asian team in any world basketball competition. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the historic campaign, GMA News Online will release a series of stories following the exploits of the squad as if they were happening in real time. 



29 October 1954

The Philippines bounced back from two straight losses with a 48-38 win over Formosa in the final round of the FIBA World Championship held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

The two Asian teams battled tightly to a 21-21 deadlock in the first half, before the Filipinos pulled away in the second half to improve their final round record to 1-1.

 

It was a rematch of championship for the Asian Games earlier in the year, and the Philippines asserted their mastery over their familiar foe.

 

Nap Flores paced the Philippines with 12 points, while "The Big Difference" Caloy Loyzaga finished with 10. Pons Saldana and Antonio Genato added eight points apiece.

 

Lauro Mumar, who finished with 14 points against the United States, did not score any basket against Formosa.

 

Wang Yih-Jiun scored 12 points to lead Formosa, followed by Tong Suet Fong with 11. Lai Lan Kang finished with eight points.

 

The Philippines lost its final assignment against Brazil in the preliminaries, before dropping its first game in the final round against the United States.

 

Formosa entered the final round after finishing on top of Group D with a 1-1 card. They nipped Israel, 49-45, but bowed to Chile in a 68-66 thriller. The three teams were caught in a triple tie, but the Formosans won by quotient and advanced along with the Israelis.

 

The Philippines is set to face Israel next on October 30 to continue their campaign. — Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News

 

The scores:

 

Philippines 48 - Flores 12, Loyzaga 10, Genato 8, Saldana 8, Tolentino 7, Manulat 3, Mumar 0, Rabat 0, Francisco 0, Barretto 0, Bautista 0, Amador 0

 

Formosa 38 - Yih-Jiun 12, Suet Fong 11, Lan Kang 8, Yat 3, Ynet-On 2, Poon 2, Cha-Pen 0, Jing-Huan 0, Lee 0, Jao-Quin 0

 

Halftime: 21-21