to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
Basketball is a team game. It is not a game of individual talents, but of how these individual talents contribute to a whole. Germany’s ascension as basketball’s world champions is a clear lesson in team chemistry, cohesion, discipline and more. Indeed, it is a most beautiful team game.
I foresee a tactical battle with both teams opting to beef up on the defense, and with both trying to occasionally outsprint the other on the offensive transition. This will be a chess match of Euro coaches, demonstrating more defense-oriented systems may not be as exciting as the glitz and glam of the American playing style, but more like a slow wrestling pin-down where brute force and proper technique holds sway.
The two mano-a-mano duels unfold before us fans tonight. We are down to the last 4, with 2 American and 2 European teams going head-to-head. Watch the wily SGA and the Canadian crew do battle against Serbia’s merry band of Bogdan Bogdanovich and his brothers. Witness the high-flying, star-studded team of the US of A as they trade fireballs with Germany’s Dennis Schroder and his cohorts. We know who has the best talents. But in a team game like basketball, it may not just be about talent, but of strategy, of coaching, of discipline and the unselfish resolve to put the team interest above individual honors.
For countries that do not have the height or size advantage, it is clear that the basketball culture developed in Europe will be more suited for them. For countries like the Philippines, it will do us good to look at the Euro system rather than continue to emulate the NBA style of play. Which is actually impossible for us to copy, in the first place.
It is time to move forward. Collectively, we have much to do. From the management, to the coaching staff, to the players, to the fans, we all have our responsibilities here. Let’s move on and continue to support the successful hosting of the FIBA 2023. Let’s continue cheering for the surviving teams. Finally, let’s prepare for Gilas’ next campaign.
Color My World 