Dominican Republic’s Karl-Anthony Cities. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
Within the din of the opposing group’s revelry, Karl-Anthony Cities discovered solace within the Dominican Republic’s marketing campaign within the 2023 Fiba World Cup.
Holding again his tears whereas chatting with a bunch of overseas reporters, Cities, one of many few top-flight NBA stars who opted to characterize his nation in a match seen as much less prestigious than the Olympic Video games, mentioned he takes delight in what his squad has been capable of put collectively regardless of crashing out of quarterfinal rivalry.
“I believe we introduced a number of happiness to a number of households again residence and I believe that’s the great thing about basketball,” he mentioned on Sunday at Good Araneta Coliseum in Quezon Metropolis. “That’s what sports activities is about.”
“It doesn’t matter what nation you’re from—whether or not or not it’s China, Japan, USA, Serbia, Slovenia or the Dominican Republic, all of us communicate one language,” he added.
“That’s the wonder [of] this sport. There are very, only a few issues on this planet which have a common language. Basketball is considered one of them.”
The Dominicans fell to the Serbians, 112-79, to overlook out on a quarterfinal berth within the world showcase. The Caribbeans additionally didn’t tab a ticket to the Paris Summer season Olympics that Canada snared by dethroning Spain later that night time.
However Cities insists these failures hardly diminish his group’s feat.
“We did one thing that everybody didn’t anticipate us to do. We made little girls and boys again residence proud. I believe we gave them an opportunity to see that we may be: A prime group within the nation. Even on this planet,” he mentioned.
“I really feel this group did a number of nice issues for lots of people who want it.”
Younger program
Dominican Republic’s Karl-Anthony Cities celebrates after beating Angola and sweeping Group A of the Fiba World Cup. -FIBA PHOTO
Cities, a three-time NBA All-Star, looks like his group’s story can be shared by a bevy of groups that additionally didn’t make the ultimate section that will get happening Tuesday at Mall of Asia Area.
Simply main that checklist is South Sudan, a younger nation whose basketball program was put collectively solely 12 years in the past however has emerged as one of many indelible tales of the match.
The Vibrant Stars, just like the Dominicans, additionally missed out on a quarterfinal berth. However their crew—principally comprised of gamers who have been displaced by poverty and strife—did simply sufficient to earn passage into Paris, which is one thing federation president Luol Deng mentioned ought to be a supply of boundless inspiration at residence.
He additionally thinks that the group’s marketing campaign has kicked open a number of doorways on his residence soil.
“We’re gonna have fun this and revel in it, however [there’s] impression that that is making on our youth,” he mentioned. “Now, we are able to make investments extra within the youth. I’m not right here to simply say basketball. Sports activities basically, but additionally music and artwork.”
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