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Philippines, 25 Apr 2024 |
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Team USA, Venezuela show Olympic spirit By Kristy Gonowon PhilBoxing.com Sun, 31 Jul 2016  CHICAGO --- On Friday night at Chicago's United Center, the men's USA basketball team left the arena with an expected victory in an exhibition game against the Venezuelan national team who was without their best player, Greivis Vasquez. Despite some serious shooting deficiencies, Team USA notched an 80-45 victory in their run up to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, which is rapidly approaching. However, the Olympic spirit was already alive and well that evening. Although the seriously out-manned Venezuelan team was without their best player, lacked any sort of offensive effort even with their somewhat solid defense, it was apparent that this team had no chance against the juggernaugt that is Team USA. With the names on their jerseys falling off within minutes of the opening horn, the Venezuelan national team showed nothing but excitement after the game when the team's players, still sweating from the game and in their uniforms, eschewed going to their locker room and headed directly to the entrance of Team USA's locker room for a chance to take pictures with their internationally known American counterparts. As each member of Team USA answered questions along the media line leading to their locker room, the Venezuelan players huddled together at the end of the line, eagerly discussing in Spanish who would take what photo with which player. As Kyrie Irving made it to the locker room door, he smiled and embraced each Venezuelan player who stood there, dapped each man, and took whatever picture they wanted. Then came Carmelo Anthony who did the same. And then Kevin Durant and so on. While the Venezuelan players looked at each superstar heading inside with excitement and giddyness of basketball fans around the world, each member of Team USA, through their kind and gracious actions, acknowledged that even after a game where the opposing team lost, those same players are also fans who deserve respect, comradarie, and friendship. Even both coaches acknowledged that each team played hard and would not let up just because one team happened to be more famous than the other. "They gave us a run for our money," acknowledged Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K and Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler both felt a special place of pride of being back in their "home city", seeing as Coach K grew up in Chicago, while Butler still plays here. "It was great feeling seeing all the fans after being on the road awhile. To be back home is always nice," said Butler, to which Coach K agreed. "(This win) gives us more confidence going into the Games." Team USA plays its next exhibition game on Monday, August 1st against the Nigerian national team. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Kristy Gonowon.  |
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