U.S. sweeps basketball golds

Primastuti Handayani , The Jakarta Post , Beijing | Sun, 08/24/2008 4:26 PM | Sports

The NBA star-studded U.S. defeated world champion Spain 118-107 in a fierce game with fans from both countries – that excluded British soccer celebrity David Beckham – booed and wooed the players.

The U.S. players began leading in the first quarter although they faced solid and tight defense by the Spaniards to end it 38-31. Play began to be more intimidating for both sides in the second and third quarters of which the U.S. still led the game.

Leading 91-82, the Spanish team managed to narrow the gap 104-111 before a time out. The Americans were much quicker in the last minutes, leaving the Spaniards unable to catch up and bowed out 107-118.

“I’m so excited. We all are. We’ve been waiting for this for years and it’s finally here,” said Bryant, who got the gold for his 30th birthday on Saturday (Aug. 23).

Comparing his gold medal with the NBA Championship title he won with the LA Lakers from 2000 to 2002, Bryant said: “It is more important and more special than any championship that any of us will ever win.”

The U.S. has dominated basketball in the Olympics by winning the gold medal 12 times from its 15 appearances. However, it only took a bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics and another bronze at the 2006 World Championship. The result put the team under a lot of pressure.

The men’s team victory completed the U.S. domination in basketball after its women’s team snatched the gold a day earlier by ousting Australia 92-65. (and)

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