WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHILE 1959
The presence of Formosa( the nationalist China of Chiang Kai-Shek which was not recognised by either the USSR or Bulgaria) augured problems. William Jones was aware of this and consequently scheduled the matches between the Chiese and the two communist countries for the end of the tournament in the hope of gaining negotiating time.
POLITICS AGAIN
The USSR seemed unstoppable throughout the event with their star Victor Zunkov leading ably supported by Muzhnieks, Seminov, Korneev and the captain Valdmanis. The team coached by Stepan Spandarian easily beat their rivals: Puerto Rico( 84-55), Brazil( 66-62), Bulgaria( 78-58), Chile( 75-49) and the USA( 62-37) all fell before the Soviet steamroller. A special mention should be made of the victory over the USA because apart from the conclusive result, it was the first time ever that a Soviet team had defeated the USA in seven meetings.
Gold seemed assured for the Soviet squad but, once again, politics( we must not forget that the championship took place in the middle of the Cold War) would prevail over the noble spirit of sport. On the second last day of the tournament the USSR was due to meet Formosa, an easily accessible rival, and victory would guarantee them first place as they were due to rest on the final day. However, the Soviet delegate had previously informed FIBA that their team would not play Formosa as their authorities did not recognise this country but the China of Mao Ze Dong.
China had joined FIBA in 1936. After the Second World War the country suffer a long, bloody civil war which was eventually won by the communists led by Mao and the followers of General Chiang Kai-Shek formed a government in exile on the island of Formosa. FIBA recognised Formosa in 1952 while at the same time maintaining the rights of the original federation now known as the Basketball Association of the Peoples ' Republic of China.
Formosa took part in the 1954 Championship in Rio without problem due to the absence of the European communist countries( apart from Yugoslavia that always acted according to their own criteria). FIBA was well aware of the problems this could cause, never referred to Formosa as the National Republic of China in classifications, calendars or regulations. However this approach was not followed by Formosa who even had the name China on their jerseys. Bulgaria and the USSR protested and threatened not to play but their protests fell on deaf ears.
At 9 pm local time, on January 30 the Formosan players, with the China logo on their jerseys, were awaiting their Soviet rivals, but they waited in vain. The USSR, virtual champions, carried out their threat and did not appear for the game. Almost 30,000 people were waiting for the match to begin but they were left listening to an anguished William Jones apologising for what had happened. Formosa were awarded the match 2-0 but even with this minimal defeat the title still belonged to the USSR as they had won all their previous matches.
The sanction could not be restricted to merely the loss of the match. It was unthinkable that a team that had refused to play a match was to become world champions, especially so given the financial loss incurred and the damage to the image of the game. Throughout the morning of the closing day William Jones had to put his best diplomatic abilities into play.
185 FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ