Basketball gold

The USA  Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Games was perhaps the strongest team ever assembled  in Olympic history. Just look at the lineup, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner.  Before the Dream Team, however, the US sent  only college amateurs.  But in 1988, after the Soviet Union defeated the US Team in the semifinals, fans lobbied US officials to change its policy and send the country’s best.  Recognizing that other nations, especially the Europeans, had caught up to the Americans in basketball talents, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) agreed to allow professionals from the NBA to participate. At first, the NBA was hesitant citing it would be a big problem if a superstar were to get injured, but eventually give way to the clamor of the fans.  As expected, Team USA showed no mercy as they cruised to the gold medal against Croatia, 117-85.  This year, Kevin Durant will lead a powerhouse USA Team to the Tokyo Olympics. The team, which will be mentored by Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, will shoot for its fourth consecutive gold medal. Besides Durant, who was a member of the 2012 and 2016 gold-winning US teams, the rest of the contingent are Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) , Bradley Beal (Washington Bullets), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Zach Lavine(Chicago Bulls) and Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons).  Also part of the team are Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday and Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker,who are all currently playing in the NBA Finals. Some of superstars who begged off include Lebron James and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen Curry (Golden State), James Harden and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. With this explosve lineup, the team looks invincible and is expected to blast the other pretenders to the crown. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, got the green light to join the Tokyo-bound Greek team.

Hunger

The hungrier team will win the NBA crown this season. Well, actually it’s been a long time since both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns have been in the Finals. While the Bucks won in 1971 with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, the Suns have never won an NBA crown. The last time the Suns entered the Finals was in 1993 losing to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Phoenix came close to winning its first title but lost to the Boston Celtics, 4-2.  On the other hand, the Bucks were back in the Finals in 1974 but lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Old man Chris Paul, at 36, continue to be the thorn in the Bucks' drive for another title.  Paul scored 32 points in Game 1 and fired 23 points in Game 2 to survive Antetokounmpo’s 42 points.  oo bad, the Greek Freak didn’t get ample support from  Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez who was unstoppable in the semifinals versus the Atlanta Hawks. That’s the trouble when you have a take-charge guy.  The rest of the team tend not to give their best efforts. I’m sure Paul, who’s playing in his first Finals in his 16-year career, won't let this opportunity slip through his fingers. The Suns have come this close. Devin Booker is back in his scoring spree while Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne, provide valuable support.  But will Milwaukee give te crown to the Suns in a silver platter?  I don’t think  the Buck stops here,  the hungrier team will win.

SEA Games postponed

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) announced that this year’s host Vietnam has postponed the 31st Southeast Asian Games due to Covid-19 virus. POC president Abraham Tolentino said there’s a spike in Vietnam at the moment that prompted authorities to enforce lockdowns. Indonesia leads Southeast Asia in Covid infections with over 2 million followed by the Philippines with 1.4 million. Likewise, Thailand is experiencing a surge with a daily death rate of 75.  In the early days of the deadly virus, Vietnam was hailed for its response but the vaccine rollout is not so successful. According to PSC Commissioner Mon Fernandez, the Games will be reset to July next year.  As I was ending this column, breaking sports news reported that the US Team lost 87-90 to Nigeria in an exhibition game.  This is not a cause for alarm as the US might just be “nagpadako sa pusta”.  Watch Team USA during the actual games.