WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRAZIL 1954
USA SET THE STANDARD
In the 1952 Helsinki Olympics North American basketball was seen to be light years ahead of the others. Not even the USSR, on their return to the international scene after the war, was able to stand up to the USA who won the gold medal( 36-25). At this time the US university students kept their gold medals from the Olympics and the now-established NBA offered these university students about to finish their studies, team places and money.
The World Championship was not an event that caught the attention of US basketball managers. Once again they sent an inexperienced team to Brazil, composed of white players even though it was one of the few opportunities to give black players the chance they deserved. The team was made up of the young white players from the state championships who would never reach the professional level of the NBA. Even so, the team that was far from being the best the USA could produce was still competitive enough to beat the highly-rated Brazilians and win the world title without being defeated.
The two great favourites, Brazil and USA, followed different tactics. In contrast to Brazil, the USA did not show their hand until the decisive moment whereas Brazil did, playing up to their enthusiastic fans. During the first phase the USA swept Peru( 79-49) and Canada( 59-37) aside, but this was no big deal. Brazil thrashed the Philippines( 99-63), the highest score of the tournament, and had no problems in beating Paraguay( 61-52). In the other groups Uruguay and France both defeated Yugoslavia in a controversial fashion that we will comment on later. The group consisting of Formosa, Israel and Chile was settled on goal difference( in favour of the first two) after it finished with one win apiece.
Brazil and the USA had very similar strengths. The home squad had incorporated young players to add to the base that had finished fourth in the Argentina championship and went to the Helsinki Olympics. Among these newcomers were two future figures of world basketball: Wlamir Marques who having just turned seventeen was the team ' s top scorer, and Amaury Pasos who had been chosen as the best player of the Sao Paulo championship that year. They also had their veterans, the captain Angelo Bonfietti( known as Angelim), who played in the first world championship, Mair Facci, an outstanding member of the Helsinki Olympic team and Almir De Almeida. Joe Stratton( the star of the team), William Johnson, James Kirby Minter and Eddie Solomon stood out in the US squad. However, their main strength was their power in block as well as an excellent defence. During the final phase it became crystal clear that the two teams would go face to face on November 5 with the title at stake. Brazil was convincingly overcoming their opponents. None of them had an answer to Brazil ' s offensive power and they beat Formosa( 61-44), Israel( 68-46), Canada( 82-67), Philippines( 57-41), France( 49-36) and Uruguay( 60-45).
The US run was equally impressive; they easily beat Philippines( 56-43) and France( 70-49), had a bit of trouble with a tough Uruguay( 64-59) and defeated Canada( 84-50), Formosa( 72-28) and Israel( 74-30). Their coach, Warren Womble, had subtly shaped a firm defence whose effects would be noticed in the final. In addition to this, the US technical staff had carefully studied the Brazilian attacks and created an effective counterattack.
179 FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ