Pride at stake
Men’s basketball began yesterday in the Summer Games, and the four matches on tap all lived up to the hype. France and Australia, medalists in the Japan Olympics, bolstered their bids for spots in the Round of Four with identical 12-point victories over Brazil and Spain, respectively. Germany, which came close to beating the United States in an exhibition last week, coasted against Japan, while Canada preserved an early lead to upend Greece by seven. For longtime hoops habitues on this side of the globe who stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to catch the encounters live, the latter proved to be especially rewarding.
True, any contest that features All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cannot but be must-see fare. That said, yesterday’s meeting between Greece and Canada had the added flavor of nationalism. They, and other notable professionals, weren’t playing for a paycheck; in fact, they were risking their livelihood by burning rubber in Paris. Bottom line, they were strutting their stuff for flag and country. It’s why just about every possession was treated as the last, and why they all wore their hearts on their sleeves.
Acclaimed sports writer Grantland Rice once said, “When one great scorer comes to write against your name, He marks, not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.” Well, both Greece and Canada did play the game, and how. It just so happened that they also meant to win — and to the extent that International Basketball Federation rules would allow. By the time the battlesmoke cleared, a whopping 64 free throws off 52 called — and a host of other uncalled — fouls were taken. And it didn’t matter that Antetokounmpo and Company were down early and by as much as 16; they still had a chance to get ahead in the final minute of the payoff period.
Canada’s stalwarts would hold on to preserve their advantage. And in securing their first Summer Games win over the last 24 years, they exemplified the Olympics motto Citius, Altius, Fortius — or, rather, the first part. The last, “Communiter,” was clearly optional for them. Owing to the heat of the battle, they had harsh words instead of handshakes for Greece. Even Gilgeous-Alexander joined in, shouting “What up, b—h” to a fallen opponent. If magnanimity had a face right there and then, it would have been in a milk carton.
Such is competition in the highest stages, and, within the confines of the court, causal observers will not find a better product. Nothing but pride is at stake, and everything with pride is at stake.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.