WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PHILIPPINES 1978
The USA started with a victory over Australia (77-75) and then had easy wins over the Czechs (96-
79) and the Dominican Republic (104-65).
This is a good place to make a brief analysis of the US team. During the World Championship in
Puerto Rico FIBA decided to expel the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), who had been the US
representative since 1932, and appoint the ABAUSA (Amateur Basketball Association USA) in their
place. Several meetings were held between FIBA and the new US representatives to increase the
quality of the teams sent to international competitions.
ABAUSA kept their word at first and sent a magnificent team to conclusively win the Montreal
Olympics, including Adrian Dantley, Phil Ford and Walter Davis who played particularly well.
However, in Manila they reverted to their old ways. The best university players stayed at home and
in their place they sent a type of religious embassy that played under the title “Athletes in Action”.
The most valuable player was the centre Ralph Drollinger (2.15 metres) whose main claim to fame
was that he had rejected a half million dollar contract to play in the NBA. They were all very
respectable boys but they did not have the talent to make their mark at this level of basketball.
The US decision to go back on their word and send a sub-standard team to the championship
rankled at FIBA headquarters where the decision to exclude them from future tournaments was
raised but everything was resolved after new promises were made regarding future events.
SOVIET CENTIMETRES
The Montreal Olympics saw a new defeat for the USSR by their bête noire. Yugoslavia were not
prepared to cede ground to their great rival and Kikanovic, Dalipagic, Cosic, Slavnic, Delibasic and
the rest of the Yugoslav team lost no time in taking their revenge for the defeat suffered in Puerto
Rico. The failure in Canada had prompted the return of Gomelski as Soviet team coach.
A few days before the start of the tournament the death of Alexander Belov was announced. He
had fallen into disgrace after the last Olympics and had spent some time in prison; some say he
was imprisoned for political reasons and others say it was due to his small scale smuggling,
something common to many Soviet athletes of the time. Not much is known about the death of
one of the best European players of all time and scorer of the famous last second basket in the
Munich Olympics.
Nevertheless, Belov's absence did not weaken the Soviets' strength at the block. Gomelski could
call on Vladimir Tkachenko (2.20 metres) and Alexander Belostenny (2.14 metres) in the lane,
and on the perimeter, a battery of lethal shooters including Sergei Belov, Iovaisha, Myshkin and
Eremin. They had a great chance of defending their title.
On first sight the USA looked impressive with their bibles in their hands, but they were very weak
at ball-handling. The USA was beaten by Italy (81-80), Yugoslavia (100-93), Brazil (92-90) and the
USSR (97-76). Their victories against Canada (96-90) and the Philippines were not enough for
them to contend for the medals.
The bronze medal was clearly destined for either Brazil or Italy as shown by their victories over the
USA. They were both superior to Canada, Australia and the USA but not at the level of the two big
favourites who both beat them both in their respective matches.
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FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ