Oh-lympics:Basketball

Highlights of the exhibition match between Team USA and Spain.

Good news for the Americans: They won by 22.
Bad news for the Americans: They trailed by as much as 9 in the first quarter before Carmelo Anthony exploded for about 23 points off the bench in the first half. So they really needed an explosion just to pull away from the Spaniards.

 What's clear is that Team USA is still the best team in the world.

But this is also a team who barely held a 20 point lead against an old Argentina team and went down early to a big Spain team.

An upset is not out of the picture. Would it be Spain, Argentina, Brazil or even Lithuania delivering the shocker?

Argentina Wins 2011 FIBA Americas!

Olympic berth? Check.
Win FIBA Americas crown on home ground? Doubke check.
Payback for a heartbreaking loss a week before? Triple check.

Argentina closed a highly successful FIBA Americas campaign by emerging as champions in the 2-week long tournament. They beat 2nd round tormentor Brazil 80-75 on their home court, sparking wide spread celebrations all over the country.

The Argentines were led by Luis Scola's 32 points while Brazil was led by Marcus Vinicuis' 17points.

Both teams clinched berths in the 2012 London Olympics.

In the consolation round, the Dominican Republic pulled off an upset of sorts by beating Puerto Rico 103-89. The Dominican Republic were led by Al Horford's 23 points.

More on this story here.

HARRY BROKE MY HEART

The hopes of 92Million Filipinos rested on the slight but muscular shoulders of this 110lbs boxer. 

He was the epitome of hope eternal, the personification of the "little engine that could", the best example of how perseverance and dedication to your sport can uplift humanity.

And then he got into the ring with an opponent he has never seen before and knew nothing about.

In a span of 8 minutes broken down into 4 2-minute rounds, Harry Tanamor broke my heart. I broke my neighbors' eardrums with vitriolic curses, screams of frustration, gutwrenching pleas to every Greek and Hindu god imaginable and threats to throw myself off my balcony.

As Harry headed off to the exits in his last Olympic Games, I fell onto the bed in disbelief and buried my face into a pillow.

And ignored the guard's knock on my door, asking if everything was okay. 

CHEERING FOR CHINA...

Last Sunday, I spent my evening at Nike's "The Commitment" basketball museum at the Fort. The food was good, the memorabilia was fascinating but that wasn't why I was there.

I was there to see the "Redeem Team" crush China. After all, the US has won over China by an average of about 40points in Olympic history...who's to say that this game was going to be any different?

Except that, it was different. From Yao Ming's first basket (a three pointer, no less, giving China a 3-0 lead) to a scrappy comeback from 21-28 to level it 29-all, to the Chinese fans roaring on even when the outcome of the game was long decided, it was indeed a historic moment for Olympic basketball.

Incidentally, I was cheering for China the entire time.

THRILLING MORAL VICTORY FROM JB WALSH!

I was sick as a dog. Didn't have BTV on my cable provider. Haven't seen a truly exciting Olympic event yet.

But then, as I opened my rheumy eyes, I saw a little Philippine flag on the screen. I sat up and moved closer to the TV. It was a swimming competition and Fil-Am JB Walsh was striding towards the starting blocks.

The American announcers introduced the swimmers, taking the time to take a jab at Walsh, saying JB is a native of California swimming for a country he has barely any contact with.

And when the starter's gun barked, Walsh was the last man off the blocks. Not an auspicious start for the Pinoy swimmer. Halfway thru the event, Walsh was in sixth place, which got my praying "Don't finish last, don't finish last, don;t finish last..."

Then it happened. The "little engine that could" slowly moved up the ranks, chewing up liquified yardage in a hurry. By the time they made the last turn, Walsh was in fourth place and coming in a hurry.

With about half a lap to go, Walsh pulled into a tie for first place. By this time, I was off the bed, screaming "Get him, get him, get him!" 

And he did. JB Walsh won heat #2 of the Olympic 200m butterfly event, shattered his RP mark and became the first Southeast Asian to go below 2minutes in this event.

On an aside, the American announcers gushed over JB Walsh after the scintillating victory, remarking how he came out of nowhere to win the heat. As we say in the Philippine...Belat!

Of course, when all was said and done, his time was good enough for just 29th place out of 44 swimmers (still a much better placing than the 37th place he earned in Athens). But for that brief moment in time, a Filipino was the best swimmer in the water.

Salamat, JB. 

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. 

SERBIAN TENNIS HOTTIE!

Serbian Jelena Jankovic is currently ranked number 2 in the world, behind fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic.

While the 23 year old may be playing in her first Olympics for Serbia, she is no stranger to playing for her country, playing and winning in tournaments like the Hopman Cup.

She is currently deep in preparations for the Olympics where she and Ana Ivanovic hope to succeed Monica Seles as Serbia’s next tennis heroines.

SYNCH YOUR TEETH INTO THIS!

She's blond, she's beautiful and she's a world class Olympic athlete.

Twenty year old ONtario native Dominika Kopcik has been a member of Canada's National Synchronized Swim Team for the last five years.

She has since been earning accolades for excellence in her sport as well as raves for her stunning looks.

One thing is for sure... she sure stands out in a bevy of buxom Canadian beauties. 

OLYMPIC FEVER!

And you know what that means!

It means a countdown on some of the best, and hottest, athletes in the world!

Let's start with American gold medalist and current world record holder in the 200 meter breaststroke (and she has a really nice...stroke too) Amanda Beard. 

Amanda will be competing in her fourth Olympic Games and she hopes to add some more bling-bling to her already impressive

stash.