WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUERTO RICO 1974
The eagerly awaited duel was not long in coming. The USSR warmed up with a victory over Spain( 100-71) and Yugoslavia had done the same in their matches against Brazil and Cuba( 101-83), but these were left in the past when the two teams came out onto the hardwood of the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. No quarter was asked for or given as both teams strove for a vital victory. The USSR took an early lead but the electrifying pace set by guard Zoran Slavnic took its toll on the Soviets ' endurance. Kondrashin ' s men were still in the game thanks only to the points scored by the Belov brothers( Sergei and Alexander). During the second half the magnificent Cosic, ably assisted by Slavnic and Kikanovic gave Yugoslavia an eleven-point lead and a late fight back by the USSR only served to reduce the difference and the match finished 82-79. Yugoslavia, the Soviet bogey team, had struck again.
However, the competition was far from over, there were other important matches to come and Vladimir Kondrashin did not allow his men to become downhearted. The three main contenders wasted little energy on the other teams( only Yugoslavia needed a period of overtime to beat Canada) until the final two decisive days. On Saturday 13 July Yugoslavia could have been crowned world champions. For this to happen they needed to beat the USA but the Americans were a different prospect to the USSR. Lucas, Gerard, Kelley and the rest of the US expedition were a match in defence, speed and creativeness for Cosic, Kikanovic and company. This extraordinary combination of strengths and talents provided an enthralling game. Yugoslavia took an early lead, capitalising on some poor perimeter shooting by the Americans. The score at the end of the first half was 50-41. Novosel, the Yugoslav coach, took a conservative line in the second half. He was worried about Slavnic who was suffering from a muscle strain and was clearly in difficulties. Yugoslavia changed tactics for a zone defence and this permitted a US reaction led by John Lucas( 16 points) and Luther Burden( 22). The USA turned the scores around and with five minutes to go were ahead. At this point Novosel considered returning to a man-to-man defence but decided to keep to his conservative approach, not wanting to press the entire court and accepting the three-point defeat( 91-88) that would assure them the silver medal.
The victory of the young US team increased the tension on the final day. The championship was decided on Sunday 14 July and all the spectators were behind the US team. The USSR had to beat the USA by three points or more to take the gold medal. If they lost however, they would only take the bronze as Yugoslavia were already guaranteed the silver.
Once again the inexperience of the American players prevented them from being able to hold the Soviet team, for whom Alexander Salnikov was unstoppable( 38 points in the match). The staunch US defence was unable to hold him and he seemed to be in a state of grace. Their final defeat( 105-94) did not tarnish their performance, they had earned respect match after match despite being given little chance by the experts. Three teams tied for first place and as set down in the tournament rules, this was decided on goal difference. The USSR was crowned as the new world champions, followed on the podium by Yugoslavia and then the USA. Cuba maintained their position behind the big three and then came Spain, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada respectively. The eighth placed team Canada played some great matches against the strongest nations, albeit losing, but were defeated by all the teams at their own level.
208 FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ