When the FIBA World Cup bound Philippine Basketball team flies to China for its Group D series with Italy, Serbia and Angola, coach Yeng Guiao and his boys should be additionally motivated by the sweet memory of their counterparts’ 1954 escapade in the same tournament.

It was the Philippines’ first venture in the biennial conclave, then simply called the World Men’s Basketball Championship that was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where the Filipino dribblers ended up third, a feat unmatched until now.