Basketball
The Philippines participated in the first basketball tournament in the history of the Olympic games during the 1936 Berlin edition where basketball was played outdoors on lawn tennis courts (which was terribly hampered by a bad rainy weather) and there were still no seats for spectators. Dr. James Naismith, acknowledged as the inventor of the beautiful game of basketball, was present at the Berlin Olympic basketball competitions and handed out the medals to the winning basketball teams.
The 1936 Philippine Olympic basketball team, then widely known as the Islanders, was coached by Dionisio Calvo and represented by 6'1" Charles Borck, Jacinto "Jumping Jack" Ciria Cruz, Franco Marquicias, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan, Amador Obordo, Cebu basketball legend Bibiano Ouano, Ambrosio Padilla (team captain who later became a Senator), and Fortunato Yambao. John Worell was also listed but was unable to play a single basketball match.
The Philippine basketball team draw a bye on the first round of the 1936 Olympic basketball competitions so they got right into the second round. Winners of the first round also advanced to the second round while losers play in the first consolation round. Winners in the first consolation round would go on to the second round while losers get eliminated. In the second round, the Philippines defeated first round winner Mexico, 32-30 to advance to the third round while relegating Mexico to the second consolation round.
In the third round, The Philippine basketball stars outplayed Estonia, 39-22 advancing to the fourth round and eliminating Estonia. The United States and Peru drew byes in the third round.
The Philippine basketball team faced a tough task in the fourth round of the 1936 Olympic basketball competitions as they had to beat the Americans to advance to the next round. The Filipinos however were clobbered, 56-23, thanks to the dominance of 6-foot-8 behemoth Joe Fortenberry. With the loss, the Philippines dropped out of medal
The 1936 Philippine Olympic basketball team, then widely known as the Islanders, was coached by Dionisio Calvo and represented by 6'1" Charles Borck, Jacinto "Jumping Jack" Ciria Cruz, Franco Marquicias, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan, Amador Obordo, Cebu basketball legend Bibiano Ouano, Ambrosio Padilla (team captain who later became a Senator), and Fortunato Yambao. John Worell was also listed but was unable to play a single basketball match.
The Philippine basketball team draw a bye on the first round of the 1936 Olympic basketball competitions so they got right into the second round. Winners of the first round also advanced to the second round while losers play in the first consolation round. Winners in the first consolation round would go on to the second round while losers get eliminated. In the second round, the Philippines defeated first round winner Mexico, 32-30 to advance to the third round while relegating Mexico to the second consolation round.
In the third round, The Philippine basketball stars outplayed Estonia, 39-22 advancing to the fourth round and eliminating Estonia. The United States and Peru drew byes in the third round.
The Philippine basketball team faced a tough task in the fourth round of the 1936 Olympic basketball competitions as they had to beat the Americans to advance to the next round. The Filipinos however were clobbered, 56-23, thanks to the dominance of 6-foot-8 behemoth Joe Fortenberry. With the loss, the Philippines dropped out of medal