Olympic Basketball Player, Basketball Coach. Nicknamed "The Big Difference" by a Filipino sportswriter during his prime, he was the greatest Filipino basketball player of all-time, playing all three basic basketball positions with equal efficiency throughout the game. He put the Philippines on the world basketball scene through winning the bronze medal of the 1954 FIBA World Championships, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also represented the country in 2 Olympic Games: Helsinki in 1952 and Melbourne in 1956, in addition to playing in 4 straight iterations of the Asian Games, from 1951 to 1962. He is also the only Asian player to be named to a Mythical Team of the FIBA World Championships. He later coached various Philippine national, semi-professional and college teams in the Philippines and managed the San Beda College men's basketball team, where he played college basketball. His jersey number 14 was retired by San Beda a few months after his death, during the NCAA Philippines Season 92 Opening Ceremonies.
Olympic Basketball Player, Basketball Coach. Nicknamed "The Big Difference" by a Filipino sportswriter during his prime, he was the greatest Filipino basketball player of all-time, playing all three basic basketball positions with equal efficiency throughout the game. He put the Philippines on the world basketball scene through winning the bronze medal of the 1954 FIBA World Championships, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also represented the country in 2 Olympic Games: Helsinki in 1952 and Melbourne in 1956, in addition to playing in 4 straight iterations of the Asian Games, from 1951 to 1962. He is also the only Asian player to be named to a Mythical Team of the FIBA World Championships. He later coached various Philippine national, semi-professional and college teams in the Philippines and managed the San Beda College men's basketball team, where he played college basketball. His jersey number 14 was retired by San Beda a few months after his death, during the NCAA Philippines Season 92 Opening Ceremonies.
Bio by: Bona Rae Villarta
Advertisement
See more Loyzaga memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
