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Philippine basketball legend Antonio “Tony” Genato is immensely grateful that the City of Valenzuela has honored him by raising his jersey to the rafters and revealing a marker in his honor at Bahay Alamat.
The 91-year-old was part of the Philippine cage team that won bronze at the 1954 FIBA World Championship. He honored Sunday’s virtual ceremony, led by the Representative of the Second District of the City of Valenzuela, Eric Martínez.
“I also thank you, Congressman, for your dedication and my gratitude for your interest in basketball. Thank you,Genato said.
Genato served as captain of the Philippine team at the World Championship, now known as the FIBA World Cup, in Rio de Janeiro. His third place is still the highest in an Asian country.
Genato, the only known living member of that team, still vividly remembers his team’s campaign in that tournament, which the perennial powerhouse USA ultimately dominated.
The Filipinos faced the gold medalists in the final round, a single round-robin between eight teams. They even led them closer to the fourth quarter, but the Americans ultimately won, 56-43.
“As far as we are concerned, all the teams were afraid of the Philippines. They saw our potential and we knew what basketball was all about,Genato said.
“Even the United States was afraid of the Philippines.”
In addition to being a bronze medalist at the FIBA World Cup, Genato is also a two-time Olympian. He played in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, then the 1956 edition held in Melbourne.
Genato, a product of both San Beda College and the University of Santo Tomás, joined the famous YCO Painters in 1952. The diminutive guard decided to retire seven years later at the age of 30.
He then ventured into training, outside of Great Taste during the team’s early years in the Philippine Basketball Association. Great Taste was one of the founding members of Asia’s first professional league.
Meanwhile, Martinez, who is also the chairman of the House Sports and Youth Development Committee, said Bahay Alamat will enshrine the great Caloy Loyzaga and the 1954 team in October.
“For us, it is important that we have a sense of history in the game of basketball,”Martinez said.
“And he is [Loyzaga] the best, so we really have to prepare well for that. “
