To fully appreciate basketball’s place in the hearts of Filipino sports fans, one must look at the local basketball history. This game of basketball is one product of American colonization. Upon arrival in the Philippines, the colonizers undertook massive changes in the education section through the efforts of the US soldiers. The Americans introduced the public school system, and one of the first subjects and sports taught in the public schools was the basketball game.
Initially, this sport was designed for women players. But in tracing the history of basketball in the Philippines, we’ll know that the sport soon expanded its reach, and many leagues and successful teams have been formed that brought honor and glory to the country.
Basketball History
Basketball is a global sport with a colorful history. Basketball history is deeply rooted in the desire to improve student education and the need to promote physical fitness. However, to learn more about its history and rich traditions, one must trace it to the United States, the home of basketball.
When and where the basketball was invented
This team sport is the only global sport of American origin. Players and enthusiasts studying the basketball origin will learn about James Naismith, the person behind this game. According to records, Naismith invented and introduced this sport in 1891 and was first demonstrated at the International Young Men’s Christian Association of the YMCA Training School. Mr. Naismith was a Physical Education teacher in the school when he developed the game’s basic rules.
Original Rules of the basketball game
The rules of the game have changed many times throughout its basketball history. When it was first introduced to the public, Naismith used two half-bushel peach baskets as the goals. ‘Peach baskets’ became the basis of the sport’s modern name.
At first, there was no fixed number of players each time and even the size of the court. Then, in 1894, the rules started to adopt five players on each side, and teams played in an area that measured less than 1,800 square feet. Soon, the number of players rose to seven. But as we follow the basketball history, we’ll know that the modern game now boasts five active players for each team on the floor.
The first basketball game in the USA and the first international one
The first basketball game happened on December 21, 1891, under the guidance of James Naismith. This game used Naismith’s 13 game rules, and 18 students played it at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. For this first game, each team has nine players, and the primary objective is to throw a soccer ball into the peach basket attached to a balcony that’s 10 feet above the floor.
After that, the first international game in the history of basketball happened in Saint Petersburg. The Mayak Saint Petersburg won over the YMCA American basketball team in this game.
First leagues, team, and championships, Foundation of NBA
As we examine the basketball history, we’ll know that basketball was first played in US colleges. The US colleges formed their own rules committee from here, and by the end of 1913, the sport had at least five sets of rules. In addition, there were collegiate rules and two varieties of professional basketball rules.
And to ensure uniformity in the regulations, the Amateur Athletic Union and the YMCA established the Joint Rules Committee in 1915. Soon, these groups became the National Basketball Committee or NBC, which covers both the US and Canada games. Also, NBC served as the sport’s sole amateur rule-making association.
History of Basketball in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the sport promptly started at the start of the American colonization. The first American teachers and the soldiers introduced the game to the public school system. Initially, basketball was a women’s sport, but soon it was played by men. Due to the strict traditions of the Catholic Church, this women’s sport faced opposition in the Philippines. For the Catholic Church, the women’s players’ uniforms were revealing and should not be allowed.
At the beginning
The history of basketball in the Philippines coincided with the start of implementation of the public school system. It was first played by female players but was soon adopted and promoted as a men’s sport. The Philippine’s first national team was organized in the 1910s. During this time, it won the Far Eastern Championship Games. Also, the Philippine team was a winning squad and won the gold nine times. By 1924, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, was established and soon became the premier amateur national basketball league.
The Golden Era of the Basketball in the Philippines
The basketball history of the Philippines is filled with colorful stories and achievements. One notable chapter in the history and development of basketball in the country is the so-called ‘golden era’. Philippine basketball’s golden era happened during the 1920s. During this time, the country produced a national squad and joined and topped the Far Eastern Games Championship in Shanghai, Osaka, and Manila.
This national team had some of the most famous players in Philippine basketball history, like Augusto Bautista, Joaquin Inigo, Dionisio Calvo, Pedro Robles, and Luis Salvador. It’s also important to note that the national team participated in the Far Eastern Olympic Games or the FEOG from 1913 to 1934. It is an essential milestone in the history of basketball in the Philippines.
The professional era
The roots of the professional era of Philippine basketball started with the formation of the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association or MICAA in 1938. The professional league setup pioneered by the MICAA continued with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). As the first sports association, the MICAA hosted various sports programs participated by top companies in the country. After the war, its basketball tournament was the country’s premier league. The organization’s dominance ended in 1975 with the formation of the Philippine Basketball Association or PBA, considered the first professional basketball league in the country and Asia.
Foundation of PBA
The full professionalization of basketball in the Philippines happened in 1975 with the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League in 1983. In Philippine basketball history, the PBA occupies a central position. It’s the first professional league in the region and the second oldest globally. Also, the country’s Olympic basketball history traces the ebbs and flow of the PBA. Many top players in the national pool are from the best teams in the PBA. As of this writing, the PBA is still the premier professional basketball league in the country, and it still supports the national team in international competitions.
Conclusion
The history and origin of basketball in the Philippines are colorful and rich in traditions. It’s mainly a contribution of the American colonization as part of the latter’s efforts to improve the public education system. In the Philippines, basketball is not just a sport or a popular pastime. It’s now part of the country’s tradition and culture. It has become a source of pride for the country for years.
