Henry Liao

Did you know that the Philippines is the first team to score at least 100 points in a single game in Olympic men’s basketball history?

During the 1948 London Olympics, the Filipinos registered a 102-30 victory over Iraq in their opening assignment in Group B of the four-group, preliminary-round competitions.

While Chile (100-18), Korea (120-20) and China (125-15, then represented by the Nationalist Republic of China or now called Taiwan) subsequently also reached the 100-point plateau against winless Iraq (0-5) in the same six-nation group, the rub of the schedule gave the Philippines the distinction of being the first team ever to score 100 points or more in Olympic men’s basketball annals.

Note also that not a single entry in Group A (six teams), C (six teams, including the United States) and D (five teams) was able to hit the century mark at any time during the elimination-round phase.

In fact, there were no other 100-point team performances during the competition.

The U.S. bamboozled France, 65-21, to secure the gold medal. *Brazil whipped Mexico, 52-47, to settle for the bronze.

Korea was the highest-ranking Asian squad during the London Games at eighth place.

The Philippines, which was coached by Dionisio (Chito) Calvo and bannered by team skipper Felicisimo (Fely) Fajardo, his brother Gabriel (Gabby) Fajardo, Lauro (The Fox) Mumar, Manuel Araneta Jr. and Ramoncito Campos, ranked 12th.

China placed 18th among a record-setting 23 participants.