utter disbelief

and disgust... if i may add...

Just finished watching USA vs Brazil tune-up match for the FIBA world championships. The USA team, as expected, won. 90-86. How could that have happened??? They were up by 14 at the half, then Brazil opened the 2nd half with a 16-0 run. Again, it was a run that made me side with the underdogs. If the US expected this match to be as one-sided as the ones they had with China and Puerto Rico recently, the Brazilians were out to prove them wrong.

I believe that the outcome was a result of a series of occurences in that game, as well as some intrinsic stuff in the Brazilian Seniors' team.

1.) Carmelo Anthony's bad fall in the first half. At that point, Melo was the leading scorer for the US team, with 16 points. A hustle play forced him to dive for the ball towards the USA bench, causing a hyperextended knee which led him out of the game. Also, Dwyane Wade did not return after the half, wearing what is like an eye patch. It was very clear that although Team USA was way ahead at that point, the players became unsettled after that point. (Lebron kept on glancing periodically at the USA bench, checking on his draftmate lying on the ground.) This stole the momentum away from Team USA.

2.) Coach K's stategies. Coach K insisted on a lineup of Hinrich, Johnson, Brand, B. Miller, Jamison, and Arenas for most of the 3rd quarter, allowing the 16-0 massacre. Obviously, this lineup did not have the "alpha-male" that the US offense needs so badly to operate. In that stretch, we saw a barrage of desperation heaves by these people. Awful, awful, awful.

3.) Perhaps the biggest factor was the solid play by the Brazilian team. In the case of that 3rd quarter massacre, the Brazilians executed their suffocating zone (2-3) defense to near perfection, shutting down all slashers from the US, and forcing them to take outside shots. Also, Leandrhino Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Alex Garcia, and Tiago Splitter, among others, led an NBA-caliber team that weren't afraid to get banged up by big American bodies in and out of the paint. They fouled, fouled, drew charges, contested every shot. Great job. Kudos goes especially to Anderson Varejao. Go 'fro.

4.) and then there was the series of technical fouls called against the Brazilian team towards the end. I think the only mistake the Brazilian team made tonight was they didnt keep their composures when they realized that they were leading against the "Dream Team". 8-0 free throw run by the US Team. Absurd.

That's why I'm disappointed.

To all those who thought whatever I wrote was gibberish: I'm sorry. Like I said before, this is my blog and i choose what rubbish goes in. Writing this post to complain about basketball makes me feel better, so it's in. haha

About myself, I'm very very very happy!!! When i left for Singapore last February, I left like 4 pairs of jeans that I deemed "unwearable", ready to be stuffed deep into my closet. Well, I got back last week, and my, all of them fit! Some were even loose!!! I'm super happy cos i can save money on wardrobe hahaha

Nothing much happening other than that... Actually... it's weird... how SLOWLY the week has passed. I wish there was a way for me to go back to Singapore, even for just a couple of days.

Ah, I shall update some other time. Too many things in my head.

My juniors! (who are j2's now), All the best for your exams! I'll be praying for you, as I'm sure all your seniors as well as juniors are too! Will be waiting to hear the good news from you guys!