Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24) — Filipino basketball legend Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga has taken his place among the greatest basketball names in the world.
The two-time Olympian was inducted posthumously into the prestigious FIBA Hall of Fame during a special ceremony held in Pasay City on Wednesday.
Loyzaga was among the 12 basketball greats honored in the class of 2023, which also included former NBA star and Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming.
Loyzaga is the first Filipino player to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame and only the second Filipino after his coach Dionisio Calvo.
Considered by many as the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time, Loyzaga helped the Philippines become one of the best in the world – winning four consecutive gold medals in the Asian Games from 1951 to 1962.
He also led the Philippines to a bronze finish during the 1954 FIBA world championship, which remains the best finish by any Asian country to date.
His family welcomed the recognition.
’19’:
\”With this honor, experiencing this just proves to me he’s not just a great dad, but he’s the Philippines’ greatest basketball player. I’m very proud of him and I really wish he was still here to see this,\” his daughter Bing Loyzaga said.
