WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COLOMBIA 1982
RIVERS LETS THE GOLD SLIP FROM HIS HANDS
Before the big final Spain and Yugoslavia had a date to fight it out for the bronze medal, but Spain
did not seem to realise the importance of the match until the second half. They had a disastrous
start and their leaky defence conceded 60 points to the Yugoslav forwards. The Spanish forwards
performed better than the defence and managed to score 47 points. However this 13-point gap
was to prove decisive at the end. Spain reacted in the second half, despite the disqualification of
Corbalan after an incident with Kikanovic, and cut back the difference on the scoreboard. With
three minutes left the match seemed to be decided (99-114) but an epic Spanish comeback
added interest to the last few seconds: 115-119 with 12 seconds to play and with 2 seconds
remaining the score was 117-119. It was too little too late and there was no time for anymore.
Yugoslavia took the bronze.
The hors d'oeuvre had been good but the main course was still to come. When the USA and the
USSR teams came out onto the court the 25,000 spectators crammed into the “Auditorio del
Pueblo” could not have imaging what awaited them. A fierce battle took place from the very start.
The Soviets alternated between a zone defence and a box and one on Rivers and the USA
remained faithful to their full court press. The score was tight throughout. Myskhin, 31 points in
the match, was unstoppable and the USA replied with a great performance by Rivers (24 points)
and good team play. At half time the Americans had a slight advantage (47-49) and there were
never more than seven points between the teams at any time in the match.
The USA was losing by a single point and pressing the entire court. With nine seconds to go a
loose ball caused a jump up which Wiggins won for the Americans. With the clock running down
Rivers shot from the corner. The ball left his hands just before the final horn, it hit the hoop and
bounced out. The Soviet Union had won the gold and Rivers was unable to give his country the
title that had eluded them since 1959. Arvydas Sabonis was part of the joyful Soviet celebrations.
He had scarcely played a few minutes in the tournament but he had taken everything in. He was
soon to put all he had learnt into practice.
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FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ