Henry has been into NBA chronicling since 1968 during his younger days at Xavier. He spent his grade school and high school years (1962-72) at Xavier School and then attended De La Salle Taft in college.
Who would have thought that something hanky-panky was going on in local ball when most of us Filipinos were quite apprehensive and living in fear because men in uniform were roaming everywhere in the streets?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the oldest player to earn NBA Finals MVP honors when he accomplished the feat with the champion Los Angeles Lakers in 1985 at age 38.
![Michael Jordan [Henry Liao photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/148106883_329343351730861_4411297622131434413_n-e1613097979733-400x200.jpg)
Valentine’s Day will be remembered for the day Michael Jordan’s famed No. 23 jersey with the Chicago Bulls was lost in the locker room just before the team was to play the Orlando Magic. It turned out to a double whammy for His Airness as the Magic also recorded a 135-129 overtime victory.
![Caloy owned a 58-14 record in 10 global competitions. [Henry Liao photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/146150589_3685379861583295_7043500414210937829_n-400x200.jpg)
He was big. He was great. He was a game changer. Rolled into one, he was Carlos Loyzaga, the greatest athlete in Philippine basketball history.
![The 1954 Nationals that won the bronze medal in the 1954 World tournament. [Henry Liao photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/144950691_774393143285027_3026363166572188338_n-400x200.jpg)
A dozen countries were in attendance in the 1954 edition – seven from the Americas, three from Europe and two from Asia, the Philippines and Formosa (Taiwan/now known as Chinese-Taipei).
![PH National Team that won the bronze in 1954 World Basketball in Rio de Janeiro. [Henry Liao photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/144429345_221818172990075_1891445414791191084_n-400x200.jpg)
According to the famous historian and National Artist awardee Nick Joaquin, basketball was introduced to Filipinos within the historic walls of Intramuros, Manila. Unclear, however, is the exact date of the first basketball game ever played on Philippine soil.
![Kai Sotto [FIBA.com photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/4622-400x200.jpg)
Unlike Japeth Aguilar and Kobe Paras before him, Kai Sotto was not simply a walk-in, trying his luck in American basketball.
Officially, I became a professional sportswriter on June 6, 1981, when my first materials on basketball, particularly about the NBA, were published in Sports World, a weekly national sports magazine.
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