Basketball: USA overcomes Serbia

Lebron James dunks the ball against Serbia GETTY IMAGES

The team led by LeBron James had a very strong opponent to start the Olympic Games. Serbia started at a very good level, but the USA and their defence made them triumph and take the first step towards gold (110-84).

After some doubts in their preparation, the USA showed a great level in their Olympic debut. Nikola Jokic‘s Serbia was not a comfortable opponent to start with. And it showed in the first minutes of the game. Steve Kerr’s team was surprised and started behind on the scoreboard.

Then Kevin Durant showed up. He did not play any preparation games. After many days of doubts about whether he could play today, the Phoenix Suns forward came off the bench in the first quarter and punished Serbia. The USA finished the first period ahead on the scoreboard.

During the second quarter, Serbia resisted, but their opponents took their chances well and scored at a high pace. James was the leader of the team. Scoring and making his teammates play. At half-time, the game was still open, but the USA already had a nine-point lead (58-49).

Kerr’s message in the locker room was that we had to defend better. It was the way to ensure that Serbia could not come back. The USA has a lot of talent, but they also have several players with a great defensive level, such as Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis.

The great success in shooting allowed the difference to continue to grow. The European team did not want to give up, but their poor three-point shooting performance kept them away from victory. The last minutes were emotionless. The USA closed the game with a 110-84 win. 

Durant was the USA’s top scorer, with 23 points and 5/5 three-pointers. James scored 21, but with nine assists and eight rebounds, close to a triple-double. Holiday was the third USA scorer, with 15 points. Jokic had a good game for Serbia, with 20 points, eight assists and four steals, but lacked more support from his teammates.

One of the anecdotes of the game was the crowd’s whistles for Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian centre had never played in an international tournament. He had a choice between his native Cameroon, France and the USA. He chose to defend the jersey of the country where he lives. There are some in France who do not forgive him for that.

Now the USA Basketball will have to concentrate on Wednesday’s match at 21:00 local time against South Sudan, a team that almost beat them in a warm-up friendly. Serbia face Puerto Rico in Group C at 17:15 on the same day. 

Historic victory for South Sudan

South Sudan made their Olympic Games debut with a great victory over Puerto Rico (90-79). After a first half in which the Central Americans were able to dominate thanks to their great shooting success, the scenery changed in the second half.

Carlik Jones of Team South Sudan celebrates victory GETTY IMAGES
Carlik Jones of Team South Sudan celebrates victory GETTY IMAGES

The African team increased their intensity and improved their defence to propose a different game. Puerto Rico began to suffer. Neither the ideas nor the shooting were there and the South Sudanese were getting closer and closer to take the lead at the end of the third quarter. 

In the fourth period, the trend continued in the same way. Africa’s strength in rebounding did not help much in the first half, but in the second half, it was key.

Carlik Jones was South Sudan’s top scorer with 19 points and seven rebounds. Marial Shayok also stood out, with 15. And the physical power of Wenyen Gabriel and JT Thor, two NBA players who put in the necessary intensity to subdue the Puerto Ricans. 

A very entertaining game and a very important victory, considering that the other two teams in the group were the United States and Serbia.

Women’s tournament kicks off with Spain’s overtime win over China

Sunday marked the start of the women’s basketball competition with the first matchday of Group A. Spain and China met at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille in what promised to be an attractive match.

Spain is one of the most successful teams of the 21st century. Only one Olympic medal, silver in Rio 2016, but three World Championship medals and 10 European Championship medals in the last 24 years, although it has not won any for five years. China is the dominant force in Asian women’s basketball and the current winner of the FIBA Asia Championships. They are also the current silver medallist in the World Champioship.

Spain scored the first basket of the game. From then on, China took the lead and that was the tone throughout the game. The Asian players, led by an indefensible Yueru Li in the low post, threatened to break the game already in the first quarter.

Leonor Rodriguez goes to the basket past Mengran Sun and Yueru Li GETTY IMAGES
Leonor Rodriguez goes to the basket past Mengran Sun and Yueru Li GETTY IMAGES

Spain relied on the leadership of Queralt Casas and the execution of Meg Gustafson and Leonor Rodriguez. But all attempts at a comeback were futile. China always adapted to the changes Spain made and stayed ahead. 

The Spanish team had to be content with not being too far behind. And then came the final minutes. China had almost won the game, but the two Spanish stars managed to tighten the score.

With three points up with 15 seconds to go, China only needed a good defence to win. But Leonor Rodriguez hit a brilliant three-pointer, including a foul by the defender. It was Spain who had it in hand, but the player missed the extra free throw and the game went to overtime.

Spain played much better from then on, dominated the game, but China held on. Thanks to a missed free throw by Rodriguez, the situation was reversed. The Chinese were down by three points, but had the last possession. In that last attack they made a mistake and scored a two-point basket, but with no time left to avoid defeat (90-89).

Gustafson had 29 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks, while Rodriguez scored another 25. Between them they managed to make Yueru Li’s 31 points and 15 rebounds useless, and also Meng Li’s double double with 13 points and 11 assists.

Serbia struggles but delivers against Puerto Rico

The other Group A match did not seem to have the same excitement. Serbia and Puerto Rico, who are also in the same group in the men’s tournament, closed out Sunday’s basketball action. Puerto Rican resistance barely lasted in the first quarter. In the second, the gap began to widen. At half-time, 43-26. Puerto Rico had to try to change things, because the point difference is very important in this tournament.

What was supposed to be a comfortable victory turned into something else. Serbia were determined to make the game difficult for themselves. The players were unable to score, and Puerto Rico were getting closer. 

Add to that an altercation in the last minute between Dragana Stankovic and Mya Hollingshed, and Puerto Rico were within striking distance of a comeback. But Stankovic herself ended up deciding the game with a block on Pamela Rosado with six seconds left and scoring a free throw afterwards. In the end, 58-55 for Serbia. Stankovic herself was the most outstanding player, with 15 points, ten rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

The second day of Group A will be played on Wednesday. At 11:00 local time, Puerto Rico and Spain will face each other. Right after that, at 13:00, Serbia-China will take place, which could be another big game.

Before that, on Monday, the action in Groups B and C begins. It will be a historic day. USA has its first game, and its player Diana Taurasi will become the first player to play in six Olympic Games. The Californian admits she is a little tired of the questions journalists ask her about winning her sixth gold medal. What keeps her motivated is being able to help the team become champions again.

Monday’s schedule:

Group B

11:00 Nigeria-Australia

17:15 Canada-France

Group C

13:30 Germany-Belgium

21:00 USA-Japan



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