Gerflor vows to impress in PVL debut

THOUGH newcomers in the Premier Volleyball League, the Gerflor Defenders aren’t lacking in experience and in fact are expecting to make a strong impact right in their first foray in the country’s premier women’s volley league.

The team has campaigned in various t ournaments, including the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions Leagu e, and the men behind it feels it’s about time for the Defenders to level up—vying in the PVL Invitationals, which unfolds on June 27 at the Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.

“We are very excited to finally be able to be part of the PVL,” said Gerflor team manager Jordan Tolentino.

“We have been organizing and joining several leagues which helped us prepare for the PVL, which we believe is the most prestigious league in the country. Being a part of the PVL is already an honor and an accomplishment for our volleyball club.”

CARLOS ‘Caloy’ Loyzaga, the greatest basketball player the Philippines has ever produced, will be joining his global peers on August 23 when he is inducted posthumously to the FIBA Hall of Fame at the close of the FIBA World Congress at Sofitel, two days before the start of the 2023 World Cup which the country is lead co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.

Known as the “Big Difference” during his reign in the 50s for his singular effect on the game, Loyzaga will be the second Filipino to be enshrined to the FIBA Hall of Fame after compatriot and two-time Olympic coach Dionisio Calvo, who was inducted as a contributor in March 2007.

Loyzaga will have for company in the current list 7-foot-5 Chinese superstar and former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming.

Loyzaga led the Philippine team to backto-back Olympiads—in Helsinki in 1952 (9th place) and Melbourne (7th place)— and basked in the glow of the bronze medal during the 1954 FIBA World Championship in Rio de Janeiro where he was named to the five-man All-Tournament Team after posting the third highest scoring average in the competition.

On the way to the third place finish, the Philippines beat Paraguay, Formosa, Israel, Canada, France and Uruguay.

Completing the latest batch of inductees are players Amaya Valdemoro, Yuko Oga, Penny Taylor, Katrina McClain, Wlamir

Marques, Sonny Hendrawan, Angelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano and the late Zurab Sakandelidze, and coaches Valerie Garnier and Alessandro Gamba.

Former national and PBA player Chito Loyzaga paid tribute to those who made possible his father’s inclusion in the elite class.

“On behalf of the Loyzaga family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone who contributed, assisted, and supported the induction of Carlos “Caloy” M. Loyzaga to the FIBA Hall of Fame. Maraming salamat! Mabuhay ang Atletang Pilipino!” Loyzaga said in a statement released following the announcement early this month.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al S. Panlilio, who actively spearheaded the nomination, was profuse in gratitude to FIBA for recognizing Loyzaga’s contribution to international basketball.

“We, in SBP, are greatly honored to have pursued with FIBA the nomination of Caloy Loyzaga to the Hall of Fame,” said Panlilio, recently elected second vice president of FIBA Asia. “King Caloy, indeed, is the Big Difference. With his incomparable talent, he put Philippine basketball in the world map and left an indelible mark in the global consciousness with his achievements in the international stage.”