WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPAIN 1986
LESSONS IN HUMILITY
The US game improved after their victory against Yugoslavia in Oviedo. Brazil had ambitions to
reach the final but now the US machine was in full flow with Bogues and Kenny Smith in the lead
ably supported by the physical strength of McKey, Robinson, and Charles Smith and a wonderful
team defence. Nevertheless, they were unable to stop Oscar Schmidt who scored 43 points with 5
triples and was the victim of 15 of the 22 fouls committed by the North Americans. However, he
was the only one to stand up to the Americans and the USA dominated in both rebounds and the
scoreboard and at the end of the match the general feeling was that the USA still had more to
offer. The smart money was starting to go on the Americans.
The game between the USSR and Yugoslavia would live in the memory of everyone who saw it
forever. Yugoslavia with the Petrovic brothers at the helm (Drazen, 27 points and Aleksandar 15)
were in front for most of the match. Not even the excellent performances of Sabonis (25 points)
and Tikhonenko (20) allowed the USSR to approach the Yugoslavs on the scoreboard. However,
once again the Yugoslavs were to fall victim of their arrogance and desire to humiliate their rival.
Cosic's team had a nine-point lead (81-72) with 2.15 left on the clock and the Petrovic brothers
decided that this was the ideal moment to start provoking and humiliating the Soviets, who had
been very erratic in their shooting. They started turning down the free throws resulting from the
desperate fouls by Sabonis and his team-mates. The veteran Dalipagic upbraided Drazen Petrovic
for his unsportsmanlike behaviour but the USSR was not out of the match yet. A triple from
Sabonis was followed almost immediately by another from Tikhonenko. By this time the crowd was
fully behind the USSR. Yugoslavia put the ball back into play and it fell to the inexperienced Vlade
Divac who lost it under Soviet pressure. Valters, who had been missing his shots all night, to
advantage of the opportunity to tie the score just as the final buzzer sounded. The crowd went
wild and Drazen and Dalipagic almost came to blows. The USSR maintained their momentum
during the period of overtime and booked their ticket for the final.
Prior to the spectacle of the evening Spain beat Canada (100-80), slightly reducing the
disappointment of their public. The following day they beat Italy (87-69) to claim fifth place.
Meanwhile the Greek forward Nikos Gallis was hitting basket after basket and finished the
tournament as top scorer with 337 points.
THE US TAKE CONTROL
The backlash from the semi final was tough for the Yugoslavs. In the post match press conferene
Dalipagic described Drazen Petrovic as stupid while there was nothing left for the coach, Cosic, to
do but regret the lost opportunity. There was a chance that the situation would carry over to the
bronze medal match against Brazil. The score was very close (32-32 after 12 minutes) but Oscar
Schmidt was lacking his normal accuracy and the overall Yugoslav superiority started to show with
Dalipagic especially impressive (30 points). The second half was easier for Yugoslavia and they
pulled away for a comfortable victory (117-91), this time, however, they resisted the temptation to
provoke their rivals.
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FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ