Trivia and triumph

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is the first country to score at least 100 points in a single game in Olympic men’s basketball history. In the 1948 London Olympics, the Filipinos scored a 102-30 win over Iraq in their opening game.

• Edgardo Ocampo played in three Olympics for the Philippine team: Rome in 1960, Mexico in 1968, and Munich in 1972.

• The Big Difference, Caloy Loyzaga, missed the 1960 Olympics in Rome because he tripped and broke his wrist while playing softball.

• The first-ever international event participated in by PBA players was the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. The team reached second place, and was coached by Sonny Jaworski. Members included Alvin Patrimonio, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras and Chito Loyzaga.

(Source: Legends and Heroes of Philippine Basketball by Christian Bocobo and Beth Celis)