1978 Philippine FIBA World Championship team to be present at World Cup opener

The national team that represented the Philippines in the 1978 FIBA World Championship will be present when the current Gilas Pilipinas squad opens its campaign in the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Friday at the Philippine Arena.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio personally invited the team that bannered the flag the last time the Philippines hosted the quadrennial global cagefest.

Expected to be in attendance are Ramon Cruz, Federico “Padim” Israel of Crispa, Steve  Watson, Leopoldo “Pol” Herrera, Marty Tierra, Rico Acuña, and assistant coach Nemie  Villegas as they will witness the current crop of national baller slug it out against the Dominican Republic at 8 p.m.

As hosts back then, the Philippines was automatically seeded to the quarterfinals round alongside defending champion Soviet Union, and the national teams of Yugoslavia, Brazil, Italy, the  United States, Canada, and Australia.

They capped off the tournament with a 0-8 record to wind up at the eighth spot, the highest finish the Philippines had for the past 45 years. Now, they will watch as Gilas attempts to surpass that.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News