![Caloy Loyzaga [photo: Henry Liao]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/363352961_1472848936863413_3012076405685207807_n-400x200.jpg)
Long before he reached the national consciousness with his all-around dominance in basketball, Class 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame inductee Carlos (Caloy) Loyzaga dabbled in other sports.
A dozen countries were in attendance during the 1954 edition. Seven came from the Americas, three hailed from Europe and two came from Asia – the Philippines and Formosa (Taiwan/now known as Chinese-Taipei.
Unknown to many local hoop fans, the do-it-all 6-3 Loyzaga also was a sought-after prospect even after his Red Lions days were over.
Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga could well have been a big difference as a Knight in shining armor or even a Thomasian.
How huge was multi-dimensional Carlos (Caloy) Loyzaga, who will be inducted posthumously into the FIBA Hall of Fame next month, during his commercial-club years following his illustrious San Beda College (now University) stint?
In local sports, the date April 9 also is special to hoops fans. A momentous occasion moment it was forty-six years ago on that day for it marked the birth of professional basketball in the Philippines.
In this piece, we pay homage to the Philippine team that bagged the gold medal in the 1967 ABC tournament in Seoul Korea.
With most of his basketball contemporaries gone, Billy Abarientos or “Haba-Haba” looked with fondness a career which started during his elementary days at the Marulas Elementary School.
![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).