Prioritizing Asian Games basketball

THERE was a time when ruling the Asian Games men’s basketball tournament was the ultimate target of our sports leaders. Back then, restoring Asian supremacy was the priority. Prior to winning the Asian Games gold medal three years ago, the Philippines agonized with a very long title drought. It was 1962 when the Filipinos lorded over the Asian Games. That team was led by late great Caloy Loyzaga. But since then, Philippine basketball struggled in the international scene, except of course the Southeast Asian Games. We tried everything from sending our best amateur cagers, assembling our first ever professional basketball team in 1990 and even selecting a handpicked individuals we feel could be a better fit to win the gold medal. Winning the Asian Games basketball gold is the one that matters for the hoop-loving nation. At the centerpiece of the Asiad build up was the PBA and Asia’s pioneering professional league started to dip its fingers in becoming the most essential decision-maker beginning 1990 when the league formed Philippine basketball’s Dream Team, two years ahead of the much celebrated version in the NBA that turned out to be a global trend in the Olympics. What the PBA…