By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohops.net
At the beginning FIBA World Cup was taking place regularly in Latin America. As a result Brazil was the first back to back champion (1959-1963) in history, but Argentina won the first historic title of a FIBA World Cup! However, this is not the only connection among Brazil and Argentina, two of the fiercest rivals in sports and of course in the basketball courts.
1950-1970: The historic title and the back to back
At 1950 in Buenos Aires took place the first ever World Cup (called Mundobasket until 2010) with the participation of ten teams. The host nation Argentinta won the championship, while Brazil was fourth. Oscar Furlong, a light footed center with great passing skills, was the MVP of the event.
Oscar Furlong led his national team to the gold scoring 20 points in final. He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. Argentina’s captain, Ricardo Gonzalez, was the first player who held in his hands the World Cup trophy.
After 9 years (1959) Argentina wasn’t in the final, but a Brazilian player of Argentine origin, Amaury Antônio Passos, led Brazil to back to back titles! The Brazilian forward, who had played 96 games with his national team, was the MVP of the tournament and helped Brazil to start its domination for the coming years years. He also became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Four years later (1963) Brazil, led by Amaury Antônio Passos and Valmir Marques, won again the World Cup. In that tournament Ubiratan Pereira Maciel, one of the best Brazilian basketball players ever, debuted. After 20 years, Ubiratan played for Brazil in his fifth World Cup (he still holds the record along with Brazilian Marcel de Souza and Australian Phil Smyth)! He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009, while in 2010 he became member of Naismith’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In his career he won once the gold and once the silver medal and twice the bronze.
1978-1990 The “king” Oscar Schmidt
Brazil didn’t win another medal until today, but it continued to flirt with the pontium because of the top scorer in FIBA World Cups’ history, Oscar Schmidt (843 points)! The “killer” led his country to a bronze medal, a fourth and a fifth place. Additionally, Oscar Schmidt was three times a member of the all tournament team, the second leaded scorer after Nikos Galis in 1986 and the top scorer in 1990 with 34,6 points per game! He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010!
2002-2010 The “gold” years of Argentina
During the last 15 years Argentina is one of the best teams of the world, having in its roster stars like Manu Ginobili, Scola, Prigioni, Oberto, Nocioni and Delfino. The four times NBA champion, Manu Ginobili, is the man who changed Argentina’s history leading his nationtal team to the silver medal in 2002 and to the fourth place in 2006! He was a member of the all tournament team in both occasions. The best moment of this great team was the gold medal in Olympic Games in Athens (2004).
It was like yesterday…
It was exactly four years ago (7/9/2010) when – the second in its group – Argentina faced the third Brazil for the round of 16 in the Mundobasket of Turkey! But there are more in commons as Brazil’s coach is still Argentinean Rubén Magnano, who is going to face again his country in a “do or die” game!
Back in 2010, Argentina was the big winner (93-89). Luis Scola was the MVP of the game scoring 37 points and having 9 rebounds. Prigioni dished up 8 assist, while on the other hand Huertas scored 32 points! Additionally, in 2002 Argentina beat again Brazil (78-67) this time in the quarter finals! Manu Ginobili was the MVP of the game having 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists! Mazzuchini scored 20 points for Brazil