It's Ginobili Time! Argentina 81 - Puerto Rico 79

by janieannie on Sep 11, 2011 12:18 AM CDT

We've all seen it - that look Manu gets on his face - the one that says "we are not going to lose this ball game." He got it in the third quarter against Puerto Rico, and he began to rain threes - hitting five for five from 6:50 in the third to 7:48 in the fourth. He also contributed 7 assists and a blocked shot on the way to 23 points. After the game he said it was one of the most pressure-filled games of his career: "It's comparable to a game seven of the playoffs, where you know you do not have a tomorrow. I had the chance at age 34 to play a semi-final game to go to the Olympic games at home before 9,000 people."

Photo from Ole.com

And Argentina's other star, Luis Scola, got the team off to a great start, making all of his first 9 shots.

Photo from ligateunafoto,com

Highlights: Argentina Defeats Puerto Rico

Or try these highlights to get a feel for the crowd noise during the game: Argentina Defeats PR

And, highlights of the post game celebration: Celebration in Mar Del Plata

For all the heroics of Manu and Scola, Puerto Rico just refused to go away. Argentina would go up by double digits, only to look up a few minutes later to find Puerto Rico right back in the game. Barea, Arroyo, and Holland went on a bombing mission of their own, keeping pace with what Manu and Prigioni were doing at the other end.

Photo from manuginobili.com

Andres Nocioni played in this game despite a sprained ankle. Remember last year in the World Championship he suffered a bad ankle sprain and was told by the Seventy-Sixers that he was not to play. This year Philadelphia could not say anything due to the lockout. After the game, Manu said that Chapu had "won my respect for life for what he did." He only contributed to the stat sheet with 2 rebounds, but the heart he displayed gave his team a great boost. Look at the bruising that goes 2/3 of the way up his calf - he's one tough ombre!

Photo from ligateunafoto.com

I'll just let some photos tell the story of the game:

Photo from Telam

Photo from manuginobili.com

Both teams argued calls during the game, but Arroyo and Barea of Puerto Rico did so with great drama. At one point the two coaches got into a little discussion on the sidelines.

Photo from manuginobili.com

And when it was over, there was relief and celebration. The game ended with JJ Barea launching a long three at the buzzer to give Puerto Rico the win, but the shot hit the right side of the rim and backboard. Manu said, "When I saw Barea's shot in the air, my heart stopped."

Photo from Telam

And yes, the nose took another blow tonight, but nothing a little band aid wouldn't fix.

Photo from manuginobili.com

I love this photo - these guys have played together since they were teenagers. And I want to cry when I think what could have been for the Spurs . . .

Photo from ligateunafoto,com'

And I leave you with another Argentine custom - ripping off the jersey and swinging it overhead. Carlos Delfino indulged in the tradition tonight, recalling the time Argentina won Olympic Gold in 2004 and the whole team engaged in the shirtless celebration.

Photo from manuginobili.com

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Other random notes on the game

     With Argentina up by 8 as the first quarter came to a close, Barea hit a long three at the buzzer. PR had the momentum going into the second period and was up 44 – 40 at the half.
     Three seconds before the half ended, Manu suffered a blow to his nose again. He returned to play the second half with a small bandaid on the bridge of his nose.
Carlos Delfino’s shot was off tonight.
     Barea had to sit several minutes in the fourth quarter because of four fouls. He was warned by the officials to quit complaining about calls,
     With ;58 seconds left in the game, and the score tied, Manu went to the line. He missed the first free throw, and I swear his expression never changed. The look on his face said he quickly forgot it and moved on to the second shot, which was good.
     Prigioni also missed a free throw with 6.6 seconds left to put Argentina’s margin at only 2.
     Puerto Rico took about 15 seconds to foul Prigioni at the end of the game. The ball was in Manu’s hand for much of the possession and they did not want to foul him.
     Six Argentines (Manu, Scola, Fabricio, Delfino, Nocioni, & Sanchez) remain on the team who were there when they won Olympic gold in 2004.

"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5

by janieannie on Sep 11, 2011 1:29 AM CDT reply actions

I got to be honest, to me it was a really bad officiated game even thought I was expecting that. The refs allowed too much contact against our players, specially on our centers last night, and the last call against Barea was bogus.

But still PR failed to execute down the stretch, specially they took too long to foul. Arroyo took some awful shots. Also John Holland played one of the best defense against Manu I have ever seen in the first half. PR should have started with him in the 3rd and dont allow Manu to go into his hot streak. Finally I loss a little respect for Scola last night.

I’m still pretty mad about the game haha, all PR still is, mostly because we felt we were playing 9 on 5. But we are very proud of our team, despite missing 4 starters on the team cause of injury the team played great during the tournament, and never gave up.

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Sep 11, 2011 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

The officiating was very uneven for both sides. What appeared to be major blows under the basket would not be called while ticky tack fouls away from the basket were called. Neither team was happy with the calls, and Argentine Coach Lamas did receive a technical, according to the play by play of the stats.

What caused you to lose respect for Scola?

"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5

by janieannie on Sep 11, 2011 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

IMO Arg got away with a lot of stuff, moving screens fouls, fouls, elbows. And PR was getting called for some bogus fouls like the 4th foul on Barea. Thats why you don’t to play the host in an elimination game in a tournament like this, we have been in both sides. I dont recall Lamas being called for a T, a least PR didnt shoot any technical FTs.

IMO Scola was playing borderline dirty, a lot of elbows. But still I blame the lack of execution at the end, and some decisions by the coaching staff, like don’t playing John Holland more and the ball didnt get into Barea’s hands in the 4th Q.

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Sep 12, 2011 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Why would Lamas be called for a T? The PR coach started yelling at him, not the other way around. That was very basic mindplay, and he should’ve gotten a T.

Regarding the dirty play, that has been the level of contact allowed in international play for a long time. Just look at how they pummeled old man Oberto down below every time the wall went to the guy he was guarding.

by LatinD on Sep 12, 2011 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I was responding to JA that said that in the stat sheet was a technical foul called on Lamas.

The PR center was even held by the arm (by Oberto or Scola I dont remember) which in fiba is an automatic flagrant which the ref didnt call it. They also called a bad offensive foul on Santiago against Oberto, because his feet were not even set, he was moving and he floped. All of those calls happened in the 4th Q along with Barea’s bogus call.

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Sep 12, 2011 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Elbow to Oberto’s neck, wasn’t it.

by LatinD on Sep 13, 2011 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

The play by play for the game had Lamas called for a T – it was during a time out. Maybe they don’t shoot technicals on coaches in FIBA ?

"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5

by janieannie on Sep 13, 2011 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions

You lost respect for Scola? What are you talking about?

by LatinD on Sep 12, 2011 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

PR had 6.6 seconds at the end, and though they had to take it the length of the court, they should have got a better final shot at the basket.

by 4Him on Sep 12, 2011 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

That was lack of execution, we were playing with 3 pg. The mistake was one of those pg inbound the ball instead of Galindo or Santiago. That pass should have go to Barea from the inbound to have a shot to attack the basket.

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Sep 12, 2011 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Janie, great post, but for the record, Manu scored 6 straight threes, not 5. :)

by LatinD on Sep 12, 2011 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

Yes – I know he did – I was referring to the number he scored in that time period. FIBA stats cut off the play by play and I couldn’t find the time when he scored the sixth one. FIBA Americas stats, incidentally, were pretty bad overall. They never did update their leader board after the 7th games. Their in-game stats on leaders for each team were always off, and the shot charts were not interactive.

"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5

by janieannie on Sep 12, 2011 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions