THREE things about the Fiba World Cup.
One, our Gilas Pilipinas crew defeated Australia’s Adelaide 36ers, 92-83, on Friday in a tune up for the Fiba basketball bash in Pasig’s Meralco Gym. The visitors may not be the Australian team to the Worlds, but still, the win should inject some pride in us if only because we had extracted it from a supposed world power in the game.
Elated, Gabe Norwood, the Gilas team captain, was quoted by Inquirer’s Bong Lozada as saying: “I think in terms of everybody getting along, trying to get on the same page, I think we’re doing a good job.”
I like his positivity.
Added Norwood: “I think effort was through the roof. We did a good job rebounding and getting into transition so as long as we keep doing that—make teams work hard for baskets, not give up easy points—I think we’ll be okay.”
Two, the real Australian team to the China qualifiers set to blast off on August 31 (Gilas versus Italy) stunned the United States, 98-94, in a scrimmage held in Melbourne on Saturday. The loss snapped America’s winning streak of 78 games in international play, dating back to 2006. The streak was also the longest in program history, with the Aussies’ victory likewise ending their 30-game losing skein to the Americans on the global stage.
Definitely, the Aussie win spoke volumes: Are the Americans finally vulnerable in the Fiba Worlds? To me, yes, considering that the US Team this time does not have many of the NBA’s certified superstars.
“The Aussies gave us a great lesson as far as where we want to be,” said US coach Gregg Popovich, obliquely acknowledging America’s lack of championship punch.
And three, Kiefer Ravena will use the Fiba Worlds as his diving board to swim back to a blooming career that was interrupted by his thoughtless use of a banned substance that got him a Fiba suspension for 14 months.
“I’ve learned to appreciate life,” Ravena told Inquirer’s Mark Giongco. “...The value of life because basketball is my life.”
It’s in the falling, Kiefer, not in the rising. Bouncing back is the essence.