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Contact Us2002 World Championships for Men
Indianapolis, USAYugoslavia rally to sullen Argentine perfection
Mark Woods
Yugoslavia retained the World Championship crown they acquired four years ago by overcoming Argentina in a pulsating finale.
Yet at the end of a tournament which will be remembered for its thrills, spills and one hefty American belly-ache, it was fitting that it took overtime to separate Indianapolis' two most outstanding teams before the holders rallied back from the brink to emerge with an 84-77 victory and the country's fifth world title.
“I think it is wonderful to win in the United States where basketball is from," said Yugoslavia Head Coach Svetislav Pesic.
"Here are the roots of basketball, but we have proven that Europe is coming along with basketball as well. Since the NBA players have been allowed to play in the World Championship, Yugoslavia has proven time and time again their worth.”
The hitherto unbeaten Argentines though will wonder what might have been. Stripped due to injury of their leading light Emanuel Ginobili, the South Americans stepped up and came so close to absolute perfection.
Yugoslavia led 41-39 at half-time, with six lead changes and another nine ties in the opening 20 minutes.
But Argentina restricted their opponents to just 11 points in the third stanza to lead 57-52 heading into the fourth.
Subsequently up 74-66 with 2:31 left in regulation, they were pushed aside though as Dejan Bodiroga fired nine in a row for his team at the end of regulation to rally his team from an eight-point deficit.
There was controversy after Greek referee, Nikos Pitsilkas, failed to call a foul on the final play of the period. Replays showed Marko Jaric of Yugoslavia making contact with Hugo Sconochini but there was no whistled.
As the protests continued, a three pointer by Peja Stojakovic put Yugoslavia ahead to stay at 78-75 at the outset of overtime and Bodiroga added a pair of free throws to make it 80-75 with 2:16 remaining.
Argentina's only scoring of the overtime came on a pair of free throws by Fabricio Oberto that cut it to 80-77 with 45.8 seconds left.
Ex-Seattle Supersonics centre Ruben Wolkowyski then blocked Vlade Divac's driving shot to give Argentina one last shot, but Alejandro Montecchio's 3-point attempt missed and Yugoslavia sealed the game at the free-throw line.
Out-scored 9-2 in the extra period, Argentina had done everything but win, Oberto's game high 28 points tally only leading an exemplary team performance.
“We have lost the last game with the greatest team," Argentina Head Coach Ruben Magnano affirmed.
"I think all of Argentina is proud of our team. We needed better quality to end the game, but we couldn’t take the opportunity that we had.”
“I think we suffered from shock. The fact that we practically had the winning doors open and weren’t able to capitalise.”
Their silver medal was their first medal at the tournament since taking gold in 1950 at the inaugural event in Buenos Aires but after their heroics and that eye-opening defeat of the USA, their feats of 2004 will live long in the memory.
Bodiroga paced the victors with 27 with Stojakovic adding 26.
Ginobili, who injured his right ankle in the semi-final victory over Germany, was unable to score in just 12 minutes of play.
Bronze Medal Play-Off: Germans end Kiwi conquest
In most eyes, New Zealand came here to make up the numbers. They left as the true belles of the ball. The Kiwis ended on the losing side in their final game, missing out on bronze after a 117-94 loss to Germany in the consolation decider.
It was beyond all expectations for both sides but the Tall Blacks delighted all with their play and their spirit in Indy.
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, who led Germany to its first medal ever, was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after averaging 24.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots.
This time he would rack up 25 of his game-high 29 points in the first half but early on, it seemed New Zealand, and particularly Phill Jones, were more intent on stamping their mark on this encounter. Jones scored 11 of his side's first 12 points, including three treys, to have them out to an early 18-12 advantage.
Immediately Jones scored his third long-range bomb, German coach Henrik Dettman inserted Jorg Lutcke to slow his progress and Nowitzki decided to take the Kiwi's outburst personally.
Nowitzki had proved a defensive headache for every single team at this event, leading all scorers with 23.4 points a game. Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin had used a variety of defenders against him in previous meetings and continued with that approach this time.
Kirk Penney began the game matched up against him, but as Baldwin rotated his entire bench in the opening quarter, Dillon Boucher and Damon Rampton also had their chance to silence Nowitzki.
None could. With Germany leading 35-27 after a quarter, both he and Jones had amassed 16 points. But whereas Jones was held scoreless through the second quarter, Nowitzki and his band just kept on rolling. They put on 17 unanswered points over the end of the first period and start of the second to establish a commanding 19-point lead that continued to grow.
Nowitzki rested much of the quarter, but his team-mates did not miss a beat in his absence, shooting a miraculous 81% FG (13/16) for the period and a perfect 4/4 from beyond the arc as the route began. By halftime, the Germans were up 74-48.
"I've seen very few teams shoot the ball like they did today," observed Baldwin. "Our play wasn't as sharp as it has been in some games and that was reflected on the scoreboard.
"I don't think 48 points is too bad an offensive half, but 74 points defensively was fatal."
In fact, they were more than Puerto Rico wracked up in an entire 40 minutes three nights previously. The Kiwis tried to raise their game in the second half, but conceded a 0-10 run in the third quarter and were really playing to keep it respectable from then on.
"The will was there, but the tanks were starting to run a bit empty," said Baldwin. "They were
trying to find something within themselves to play hard with. It wasn't a question of will, it was more a question of energy."As a measure of that, Germany outscored the Tall Blacks 30-5 in fastbreak points, as the Kiwis struggled to get back in transition to halt the tide.
"Germany was very efficient tonight," said Baldwin. "Everything we threw at them, they were either ready for it or adjusted quickly to it. When you've got your eye in like they did, we couldn't do anything to shake their confidence."
Nowitzki, who had put the shackles on Chester Jets captain Pero Cameron for most of the match, played only six minutes of the second half and finished with 29 points. The scoring load was taken up by forward Ademola Okulaja and reserve centre Robert Maras.
New Zealand actually took the final quarter 33-21, with Cameron and Kirk Penney leading a late rally. It was never going to be enough.
Jones finished with 26 points and Penney 19 to maintain their places among the tournament's top scorers. Cameron had eight assists and three steals to go with his 13 points, while Dillon Boucher produced a gritty effort off the bench with eight points, three steals, five assists and seven rebounds.
"Fourth is a high placing," said Baldwin. "And it's a surprise to a lot of people. Hopefully, it will mean opportunities for the players. Hopefully, we now have a status in the
basketball community that will enable us to do things internationally."Countries will want us to come and play, and teams will want to come to us, because we're not the easiest place on the planet to get to."
There was more credit for the Kiwis after the match when the all-tournament team was announced. Step up Chester's maestro Pero Cameron who joined four NBA players in the elite quintet. Also selected were Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Chinese centre Yao Ming (Houston Rockets), Yugoslav guard Predrag Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings) and Argentinian guard Emanuel Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs).
Jets’ boss Robbie Peers, revealed his pride in Cameron’s achievement.
“If you ask around the league, the other coaches have always been aware of what a special player he is. He’s the kind of player you dread to play against, but love to have on your team."
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