New MICAA

Then in 1961, a year after the air-conditioned 28,000-seat Araneta Coliseum sprouted in Quezon City, the Ysmael Steel Admirals built a dynasty of their own winning the Nationals six times before the Painters denied them a second-tying seventh consecutive victory by wresting the title in 1967.

The National Open has since been overshadowed by the MICAA summer series as the top tournament of the land. From 1968, MICAA contests have drawn the greater number of fans and action in the series has been nothing short of exciting. Coaches and national players are picked for Philippine teams mainly through their performance in this league.

Only one bad mark blemishes the country's record as a top moving force in the development of basketball. This was the refusal of the Philippine government to issue visas to the Yugoslavian squad in 1962. This was during Macapagal administration. This ill-advised move forced the cancellation of the country's hosting of the Fourth World Basketball in Manila.

The country has recovered from that embarassment. Basketball Association of the Philippine Chief Gonzalo (Lito) Puyat III is the President of the International Amateur Basketball Federation  (FIBA), the world's governing body of the sport. To make the recovery even more complete, the country hosted the 1978 World Basketball Championship.