ALL AMERICAN GIRL PLAYS FOR RUSSIA

She is blond, blue eyed, sports a ponytail, has an absolutely dazzling smile and grew up in America's heartland.

Come August 8, she becomes Amercia's Public Enemy #1.

Becky Hammon grew up in South Dakota, starred for the San Antonio Silver Stars and epitomized all that is good and damn cute about USA Women's Basketball. 

With all her hoops accomplishments, there was still one dream that had gone unfulfilled...a chance to play for the USA in an Olympic game.

Now, at 31, her chances were rapidly dimming, especially when she wasn't included in the US Olympic pool. 

After signing a 2million dollar contract with CSKA Moscow, another opportunity opened up for Becky: a chance to play in the Olympics for Mother Russia.

Last week, the pretty All-American girl (with no ancestral ties at all with the Soviet Union) becames the Russkies top playmaker.

Her decision precipitated a basketball furor unseen in women's basketball history...and unleashed cries of "traitor" in every major American channel.

But for Becky, it's just about basketball...and fulfilling an Olympic dream.

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

Young, relatively inexperienced Aussie team? Check.

No Andrew Bogut? Check.

Final statement game for the US "Redeem Team"? Check.

Blowout game? Not so fast, basketball pundits.

In a game where most people expected to see the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals, what they got instead was closer to an intense first round playoff matchup between an obviously superior(but complacent) team and a scrappy upcoming challenger.

Despite the fact that Australia's only NBA player, the Bucks' Andrew Bogut, sat this game with an ankle injury, the Aussies made it a close game all the way through with teamwork and basketball fundamentals that the Americans can only dream of owning someday in the distant future.

The most glaring weaknesses for the US? Three point shooting, free throws and defense. Ironically, these were the very same weaknesses they had 2 years ago, things they seemingly addressed with the inclusion of Kobe Bryant and Michael Redd.

The question that just begs to be asked is this: If Australia can do this to the US team, what can a team like Spain, Greece and Argentina to them?

Remember, Greece broke down the American with relative ease as recently as 2 years ago, Spain is the reigning world champions and Argentina is the defending Olympic champions (who also came back to win after being down by 19pts to this very same Australian squad.)

If I were Coach K, I'd be getting Manu Ginobili and Pau Gasol an American visa right about now. 

THE UAAP AFTER ROUND ONE!

A quick look at the basketball standings of the UAAP's Season 71 reveals that the usual suspects are where they usually are...with the La Salle Green Archers near the top, the UE Red Warriors, UST Growling Tigers and the FEU Tamaraws in the middle of the pack and the Adamson Falcons, UP Fighting Maroons and the NU Bulldogs struggling for scraps.  

And right at the top of the heap are the resurgent Ateneo Blue Eagles. The Norman Black-led squad has been serving notice to everyone that they are the team to beat this season.

There are three reasons why the Eagles seem to be flying higher than ever. First, excellent backcourt play from the troika of Chris Tiu, Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat. These three have been outplaying practically every other backcourt they play against, with Tiu bringing back memories of old Ateneo hotshots Olsen Racela and Richie Ticzon.

Second, the dominant play of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao. These Ateneo big men have been the surprise package for Coach Black. Al-Hussaini has been showing a heretofore unknown offensive game, leading the Eagles in scoring with 33pts in their loss to FEU and 17 pts in their win against UST (plus a ton of rebounds). Noy Baclao logged in 9 rebounds and four blocks in the UST game (two fo which came in the last 2 minutes, preserving the Ateneo win). If other teams want to upend Ateneo, they need to take out these two giants.

And finally, Ryan Buenafe. The last  rookie to have this kind of impact on the Eagles was named Enrico Villanueva...and he is now a bonafide PBA star and perennial RP Team candidate. I love how this kid plays like a veteran, making good decisions, never forcing his shots, doing all the little things on defense and generally showing why he was a highly touted high school MVP.

As the second round begins, it will be interesting to see how other teams plan to combat Ateneo's first round dominance... my guess is they will either install a brand new defensive scheme...or send the Eagles chicken pox shavings in the mail.