The Philippine national team that participated in the 1978 FIBA World Championship may have ended the tournament without a win, but no one will ever dispute how hard the players fought for glory in front of their countrymen.
Culled from different MICAA teams, the team was led by skipper Alex Clariño. The offense was to come from Ramon Cruz, Leopoldo “Pol” Herrera, and Federico “Bokyo” Lauchengco of Frigidaire, and Steve Watson and Bernardo “Joy” Carpio of Crispa Shirt Factory.
Other members of the team were Greg Gozum and Nathaniel Castillo of YCO, Edward Merced of Frigidaire, Federico “Padim” Israel of Crispa, and ITM’s Cesar Yabut.
Clariño played in the BIBLE tournament for Sunrice, and Cesar Teodoro was with Villar Records, a team that competed in the Interclub.
Marty Tierra of San Miguel and Rico Acuña, who suited up for Presto in the MICAA, were the alternates, with Nicanor Jorge as head coach, backstopped by Nemie Villegas as his assistant.
For the opening day of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on August 25, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President and Head of the Local Organizing Committee for the tournament, Alfredo S. Panlilio, personally invited the members of the 1978 PH Team to be present at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, to witness the opening game.
Forty-five years since battling for the country in its last hosting of the world tournament, Cruz, Israel, Watson, Herrera, Tierra, Acuña, and assistant coach Villegas are expected to grace the occasion.
As hosts and defending champions, respectively, the Philippines and the Soviet Union were automatically seeded in the quarterfinal round.
Joining them were the national teams of Yugoslavia, Brazil, Italy, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Cruz, one of the most prolific players in the amateur ranks, led all Philippine scorers with an average of 16.8 points per game.
In their game against Canada, Cruz led all scorers with 33 markers, Canada winning 99-88.
