Farewell to the Basketball World Cup: the causes that explain the blow, the lessons to be learned and the way forward

And if the triple thrown by the Puerto Rican had entered Jose Juan Barea just before the final buzzer? What if that not-so-forced shot turned the tables and Argentina lost 82-81 to Puerto Rico in the semifinal of the pre-olympic 2011 and direct pass to London 2012? Nothing crazy at Islas Malvinas Sports Center. Nothing of Ginobili, nuts, school and company marching on a little train to the rhythm of “Auto rojo”, by Vilma Palma and Vampiros, as heard after the triumphal conference. Everyone would go straight to the hotel, avoiding the cold of the Argentine Sea. With enormous sadness, thinking of the repechage that would give the last three places for the Olympics 11 years ago.

Barea’s triple did not enter. The ball hit between the backboard and the ring and went out. And Argentina qualified for London 2012, whence the golden generation he would go into tears after the loss to Russia in the match for the bronze. History would have it that Mar del Plata was this time the scene of a soap opera very similar to the one experienced in 2011. And Sunday ended with a historic coupone of the strongest that Argentine men’s basketball has ever received: defeat against the Dominican Republic after lead by 17 points 2m25 left in the third quarter e goodbye to the World Cup this year in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

Yes, the world runner-up in China 2019, not anymore louis schoolIn four years, they have gone from being the protagonists of one of the biggest enterprises in national sport to watching the next World Cup from home. The coach himself said so, Paul Prison, Olympic bronze in Beijing 2008: “It’s a very hard blow and it will hurt a lot to see it on television.” If they see it…

Adrenaline still flows through the bodies of basketball fans, emotionally demolished by a sporting result that hurts. Of course it hurts, because this is Argentina and sometimes a team’s discomfort is worse than economic chaos or disrespect from elected politicians who don’t keep their promises. It will be because they trust blindly in a national team, with no other flag than faith, unconditional support and rewards on the pitch. And the National basketball team sweetened so much since 2001, with results and values ​​delivered, that This bitterness cannot be swallowed easily.

Now, it’s worth making the effort to cool down, evaluate the whys, and think about how to get out of this historic blow. Why not win one of America’s seven spots at the World Cup, a logical goal of course, is decidedly a sporting failure. It’s not a matter of life and death, of course.

When Marco Giaric he guiltily avoided that Ugo Sconochini scored the winning layup against Yugoslavia in the Indianapolis 2002 World Cup and umpires Pitsilkas and Mercedes “swallowed their dicks” consuming “Theft of the Century”, all primary analyzes focused on that “criminal” focus. Over time, Pepper Sanchez He reflected, “We lost because we’d never been in that situation.” Luke Vittoriano He said: “We will have made four mistakes in the tournament and all four were in the closing minutes against Yugoslavia.” AND Fabrizio Oberto He added: “We were eight points up and didn’t know how to close.” Yes, there was a foul by Jaric, but it’s impossible to forget that Argentina led 74-66 with 2’17 to go.

Comparisons are hateful and unfair, but it is inevitable to remember 2002 when on Sunday in Mar del Plata the Selection flourished and won 61-44 with 2’25’ remaining in the third quarter. Then the catastrophe happened: four consecutive defeats and ten points in a row for the Dominicans. And a last quarter lost 25-11, with 3-8 doubles, 0-5 triples, five turnovers and defense abandoned.

Even in full anger and regret, Facundo Campazzo He was very clear: “We must give credit to the Dominican Republic, who played a great game. They were able to defend us well and we weren’t able to take advantage of them and we played a very clear match.” Pure self-criticism. Nothing will be.

It may seem incredible, but it’s true: Argentina was left without its tenth consecutive World Cup because it was the worst quarter of both final groups, as Brazil beat him for the best goal difference (175 to 79). Everything that could go wrong in terms of the combination of results went wrong. For example, Puerto Rico beat Brazil 92-90 on their last visiting possession that Thursday. And above all, that Venezuela beat Argentina in Obras, on February 25, 2022, 71-58. A decisive result in the end, because in Caracas the national team won by just three goals and the Venezuelans had a bigger lead to break the tie in the final round.

a bitter analysis

Of course, the reasons for this truncated dream are not to be found only in the decisive match against the Dominican Republic. The “windows” qualification system devised by FIBA with the argument of the selected they play in their countries, pocket collections and receive the encouragement of their audience complicated the countries that have their best players in the NBA and in the Euroleague. Let Serbia say it, that this Monday the World Cup qualification will be played in the last match.

It can be said that everyone knew about this in advance. Logical, but a team with lots of spare parts is not the same as this Argentina that suffers if Campazzo doesn’t play. The damn thing neither vilza on the perimeter and who have never been able to remedy that historical deficiency that would have become evident after the Golden Generation: the lack of height and trade in the painted area.

It can be distinctive and beautiful for the flyer of social networks from which to admire the crossing of the Atlantic Bridge and Laprovíttola to come urgently to play with the blue-and-whites. But he’s physically insane, because time zones are no joke and rest is vital in the body of a high performance athlete.

Sure, the pride in wearing the shirt at the cost of wear and tear is commendable, but each of the Argentine athletes who row it every day does it in a purely amateur way and nobody talks about it as if they were San Martín or Belgrano.

The basketball world does not criticize these players or the coaching staff. He applauded them and asked for their autographs and photos in Mar del Plata, even in the most pitiful defeat. There is no witch hunt. And what’s more Campazzo -Campazzo!!- begs forgiveness. Please… don’t pity anyone.

the future has arrived

This generation of world runners-up and American champions in Brazil not only lives this sporting test, but also It will be very difficult to qualify for Paris 2024. It is that to be Olympic again they will have to compete in that “massacre” which will be the repechage for the four places that the World Cup does not grant.

Argentine basketball has suffered a severe blow. No doubt. But that’s not why the sport is paralyzed nor will the little boys and girls stop cutting the orange in the clubs, after all the big ones responsible for training budding athletes.

In any case, it is imperative that this historic coup must generate consequences. A jolt.

A internal revolution in the federative organization, supported by the provincial associations that constitute it but in direct comparison with the historical actors of the country.

And a deep reflection on the quality of local competition, because the National League It is devalued not only because of the economic environment but also because it has less screen, has fewer sports prodigies, suffers from a mess of schedules and statistics, shows a lack of interest in generating up-to-date communication and content for this era and clearly seeing the difficulty so that from her, as she wanted Leon NajnudelThose who can go to the national team flourish.

The future has already arrived… in the worst possible way. But the wheel goes on. Sport always pays off. But we must seek that revenge with will, ideas, character and audacity.