WHO else but the United States?
While the American cagers appear to lack star power in the FIBA World Cup, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio is convinced they are still the team to beat in the global basketball showcase kicking off on Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.
“Initially, we wanted a tier 1 (USA) team. But if you look at the lineup, it’s a pretty formidable team,” Panlilio said last Tuesday in the special edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“I don’t know if you’ve been watching their recent games. I just saw the highlights of their matches against Slovenia and Spain. It’s a pretty tough team.
“I think it’s also because of two people: Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra. So, you see, the USA team is strong,” he added.
The US five, which will be coached by multi-titled Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr with Fil-Am strategist Erik Spoelstra serving as assistant, will not have the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
Instead, upstarts like the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram are expected to show the way for Team USA’s redemption bid after a disappointing seventh-place finish in 2019 in China.
“They might not be your veteran superstars, but these are upcoming, highly contracted NBA players, high-quality players,” Panlilio said in the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, POC, Milo, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“With the coaching of Steve and Erik Spoelstra, the USA team is the team to beat.”
Bracketed in Group C, the US squares off with New Zealand on Aug. 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay before clashing with Greece two days later.
The Americans wind up their group play campaign against Jordan on Aug. 30.
With only eight days left before basketball’s biggest event gets going, deputy event director Erika Dy said the country, hosting the meet for the first time since 1978, is 95 percent ready.
“In terms of percentage, I would say we’re at 95 percent. So, we’re almost there, but it’s important to note that the last five percent is comparable to the last two minutes of a basketball game,” Dy said. “Even though it’s just five percent of a 40-minute game, those are the most important two minutes. So, I think that’s something we need to keep in mind. We’re nearly in plug-and-play mode.
“As I mentioned earlier, we’ve already entered the venues, so we have them under our care at this point. We’re setting them up to meet the standards that FIBA is expecting from us. That’s where we are right now.”
