Loyzaga rues cage impasse

Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga, probably the greatest Filipino basketball player, rued the current controversies besetting Philippine basketball and urged the leaders to settle their differences for the sake of the country’s national pastime.

Loyzaga, presently based in Sydney, Australia, was an interested spectator in last Sunday’s PBA games at the Araneta Coliseum. He is on a holiday to witness the graduation rites of one of his grandchildren.

"Instead of fighting, they should help each other and put their act together to get the Philippines back in good status in the Fiba (International Basketball Federation)," said Loyzaga, now 76.

He was reacting to the current impasse in the local basketball scene that led to the suspension of the country in all Fiba-sanctioned tournaments, including the Doha Asian Games in December.

"It’s a pity because the people that suffer the most are the players, not these squabbling officials," Loyzaga added.

The man who played under the monicker "The Great Difference" and chosen by the Philippine Sportswriters Association as one of the greatest Filipino athletes of all time said he hoped the meeting between the POC and the four cage stakeholders and Fiba secretary general Patrick Baumann could lead to the lifting of the suspension and pave the way for the return of the country in the Fiba rolls.

"I’ve been out of the country for 20 years now so I am not well versed with what’s happening in local sports but as far as the game is concerned, I would say our talents are very good. The problem is that players from other countries are getting bigger and taller and they can really move," Loyzaga pointed out.

To keep abreast with the improvement of international basketball, Loyzaga said the answer is to continuously let the RP team play overseas.

"We have to learn to play our bigger, taller and better rivals. We can’t just form a team, bring them out and expect to win. That will never happen," said Loyzaga.

"If you want to learn to play somebody that is better than you, expect to be beaten every week, maybe twice on Sundays. In six months, he won’t be able to do the same thing anymore. You will learn something. Sa susunod na mga laro makakasingit ka na minsan. That’s the only way to improve in all sports — playing somebody that’s better than you," Loyzaga added.

He has undergone a quadruple heart by-pass operation but, except for little hearing problem, Loyzaga looks in good physical shape and strong for his age.