Remembering Alfonso "Boy" Marquez and His Contributions to Philippine Basketball

Back in the old days, the Philippine national team was considered as one of the kings of basketball in Asia. And while younger fans might not recognize his name, the late Alfonso "Boy" Marquez will ring bells to the minds of fans during his heydays.

Marquez, who passed away last Wednesday at the age of 82, was first and foremost, a member of the Philippine team that played in the Olympics, not once but twice: first in 1960 in Rome and later in 1968 in Mexico. The Olympics held in Mexico saw the Philippine team beat the mighty Koreans that featured Shin Dong Pa. The Filipinos won 66-63 and Marquez was the second-leading scorer of the team with 12 points behind Joaquin Rojas who top-scored with 15 points.  

The late Boy Marquez was also a key member of the Philippine team that last won the gold in the Asian Games back in 1962 alongside then team captain Carlos Loyzaga and was coached by Enrique Crame. That team swept all of their games in that campaign. In the inauguration of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asian Championship back in 1960, which was known then last the Asian Basketball Championship, Marquez was also a member of the team that won it all of the Philippines. He also played for the Filipinos when then Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan-coached team that participated in the FIBA World Cup of 1959 that was held in Chile. That is where Marquez made his debut with the national team. 

Boy Marquez also enjoyed success in the local basketball scene. He won multiple championships in the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) where he won six championships with the Ysmael team before becoming the team captain of the Mariwasa team and won the MICAA championship in 1968. He also won a MICAA championship with Meralco alongside other basketball greats such as Francis Arnaiz, and Robert Jaworski as Meralco beat the fabled Crispa team for the 1971 MICAA Open Championship. 

While he was able to enter the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 1976 while suiting up for the Porcelain Makers, he was already at the age of 37 years old and was already past behind his best years in the sports. Still, he suited up for 19 games in the span of two seasons that saw him average three points per game. 

Alfonso "Boy" Marquez never enjoyed success in the PBA but his contributions to the success in the early days of the national team are beyond measure. 

More than just being a proven winner on the court, Alfonso Marquez is considered as one of the titans of the Philippine basketball. 

Photo is from SPIN.ph