PH basketball great Caloy Loyzaga to be inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame

Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga isn't known as the king of Philippine basketball for nothing. Filipinos have since known that and, just recently, even the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has given the sports star the credit due to him.

On Friday, June 2, FIBA unveiled its list of 2023 inductees to be enshrined to its Hall of Fame this August. Loyzaga will be honored as the first-ever Filipino athlete in FIBA's Hall of Fame, along with eight hoop greats and two coaches.

The event is set to take place in Manila on August 23, two days ahead of the beginning of the 2023 FIBA World Cup to be co-hosted by the Philippines.

The stellar FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is here! 🏀 🌟

The ceremony will take place in Manila on 23 August, 2 days before the tip-off of the @FIBAWC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1DUAuJBFq9

— FIBA (@FIBA) June 2, 2023

Known as the greatest Philippine basketball player of all time, Loyzaga highlighted a golden era for local basketball from the 1950s to the early '60s.

It was through the 6-foot-3 cager that the Philippines amassed four gold medals in the Asian Games in 1951, 1954, 1958, and 1962, in addition to two consecutive golds in the FIBA Asia Cup in 1960 and 1963. 

He also led the national team in the Olympics in 1952 where the country landed in ninth place and in 1956 in seventh.

The basketball legend passed away on Jan. 27, 2016, at the age of 85.

Loyzaga will be honored in the FIBA Hall of Fame 2023 along with Chinese icon Yao Ming, Brazil's Wlamir Marques, and Women's NBA champion Penny Taylor.

Other key figures completing the 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame are athletes Amaya Valdemoro, Yuko Oga, Katrina McClain, Sonny Hendrawan, Angelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano, and Zurab Sakandelidze, as well as coaches Valerie Garnier and Alessandro Gamba. 

Photo from the book 'Carlos Loyzaga: The Big Difference'