WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRAZIL 1963
At the same meeting it was decided that the tournament would be awarded to Brazil. One of the reasons behind this decision was the warm welcome the competition would surely receive from the Brazilian fans given the magnificent basketball potential of the country as well as the fact that the Maracanazinho arena had proved to be an excellent venue during the 1954 edition.
FROM MANILA TO BRAZIL
FIBA gave the Brazilians less than six months to make all the preparations and they more than th
fulfilled their obligations. By 12 May all the participating countries were ready to start. The lack of time prevented the organisers from changing the format so they stuck with that used successfully in Chile. Three four-team groups in the first round from which six teams would classify to play a league for the top positions along with the host nation. The six remaining teams would play the consolation phase.
The league system ran the risk that everything could be decided before the end, leaving the final day bereft of excitement( as indeed happened). The first voices to call for the celebration of eliminatory matches to determine the medals started to be heard; FIBA, however, did not introduce this format until 1978.
American countries once again formed the majority of the participants, as they had done since the first edition. The hosts, Brazil, were joined by the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru. Chile was missing but since their bronze medal in front of their home fans four years previously they had gone into decline. There were four participants from Europe: Yugoslavia, USSR, France and Italy. Italy was making its debut in the World Championships since it had withdrawn for financial reasons in 1950. Japan completed the entry list as Asian representative due to the enforced absences of Formosa and the Philippines. The USSR and France easily qualified for the next round from Group A, held in Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, located inland, north of Rio de Janeiro. The Soviets had no difficulties in winning their three games and won the group without breaking sweat. France beat Uruguay( 64-54) on the first day and Canada( 79-57) on the last. Sandwiched between these two victories was a loss to the USSR. Thus France reached a final phase once more after passing unnoticed in the previous two editions.
The countries in Group B were based in Curitiva, the capital of Parana State, to the south of Sao Paolo, the only fact worth mentioning is that Japan and Peru proved to be vastly inferior to Yugoslavia and Puerto Rico who fought out a match for first place which ended in a five-point victory for the Balkan nation( 83-78). Japan won the meaningless match for third place in the group with a convincing victory over Peru( 70-50).
Group C was located in Sao Paolo the traditional rival of Rio de Janeiro, situated to the north. This group appeared to be the tightest because Mexico and Italy were teams on the up, Argentina had always been competitive and USA was a force to be reckoned with whatever team they sent. However, the Argentines were a huge disappointment and were crushed in every match except against Mexico where they lost by two points( 84-82). Italy got off to a good start by convincingly defeating both Argentina and Mexico before losing the irrelevant final match against USA whom they joined in the next round.
190 FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ