Tony Genato

Tony Genato
Personal information
Born	June 9, 1929; Manila, Philippine Islands
Died	November 22, 2023 (aged 94)
Nationality	Filipino
Career information
College	San Beda
Playing career	1952–1959
Career history
As player:
1952–?	YCO Painters
?	Elizalde Ball Club
As coach:
1977	Presto Ice Cream
Representing Philippines
Basketball
FIBA World Championship
Asian Games

Antonio Genato (June 9, 1929 – November 22, 2023) was a Filipino basketball player who was part of the national team roster that won a gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games. He also competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics, the 1956 Summer Olympics and at the 1954 FIBA World Championship.^[1]^[2]

Career

Genato had his high school education at the San Beda College. He did not play competitive basketball during his high school years due to a lack of competitions during the war years. Genato took his pre-med studies also in San Beda. He played three seasons for the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA. After finishing his pre-med studies at San Beda, Genato took a course in Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas and joined the YCO in 1952.^[2] Genato joined the YCO Athletic Club in 1952. He also worked as manager of Samar Mining during his stint for the Elizalde ball club.

Genato captained the Philippine national team that clinched the bronze medal at the 1954 FIBA World Championship in Brazil which remained the best performance of an Asian nation in the international tournament. Genato also took part in the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics.^[3]

Genato retired from competitive basketball in 1959 at the age of 30.^[4] He briefly coached the PBA team Presto Ice Cream in 1977. He led the team in the first conference of the 1977 season for just two months before he was fired. He finished with a 3–4 win-loss record.^[5]

Death

Genato died on November 22, 2023, at the age of 94. He had been admitted to hospital the previous evening. Genato was the last living member of the national team roster that won gold in the 1962 Asian Games.^[6]

References

^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tony Genato". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Henson, Joaquin (January 1, 2015). "Olympic dream must never die". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
^ Bacnis, Justine (September 21, 2020). "Valenzuela City retires jersey of PH great Tony Genato". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
^ Henson, Joaquin (September 23, 2020). "'54 star once sued PBA team". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
^ Ramos, Gerry (November 22, 2023). "Tony Genato, Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian, dies at 94". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Li, Matthew (November 22, 2023). "Last living member of '62 Asiad team Tony Genato, 94, passes away". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 22, 2023.