Cuba defeats the United States after 53 years!!

toThe FIBA ​​window that halted club basketball – with the exception of the NBA – left a historic result. The United States, the always unbeatable team and leader of the world rankings, was defeated. Logically speaking, they have nothing like their best players on the field, but defeat is always a big problem. More when it happens against Cuba! (81-67). That has not happened in 53 years in a sport so dominated by the global superpower at will.

The story between Cuba and the United States are full of problems. From the interest of the State of the Stars and Stripes to “buy” the island, to the tension between the two countries after the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista. Relations between them were severed in December 1960, leading to the start of an economic, trade and financial blockade. Or the 1961 attacks that failed to confront Fidel Castro's socialist revolution. More recently, the Biden administration has been laying the foundations for a more relaxed relationship with Havana, freeing itself from the stifling measures proposed by its predecessor in the Oval Office, Donald Trump.

In sports there is a “battle” in sports like track and field or baseball, but in basketball it seems almost impossible. But Cuba certainly did so in the Havana Coliseum. His third quarter broke the weak American team Between 11 points and 9 rebounds by Jacel Rivero, a Maccabi midfielder with a past in Valencia, and also 11 points by Chacón, he eliminated “Team USA.”. Names like Elfrid Payton, Jordan Bell, or Stanley Johnson are the stars of that “list” and have an NBA past. They failed and Cuba regained victory 53 years later. Since August 1, 1971, on the occasion of the Pan American Games in Cali, this has not happened.

Surprise window

Cuba's victory is not the only surprise for the FIBA ​​window. Change, as it was played in the middle of the tournament with the possibility of playing in the Euroleague. But rhythm is vital and there were big surprises. In America, Chile defeated Argentina (79-77)… in a match in which a dog sneaked onto the field. Colombia did the same thing (67-64) with Venezuela.

And in Europe, more of the same. Belgium beat Spain (58-53) in Charleloy, Bulgaria, with Miller McIntyre, Baskonia's match director, against world champions Germany (67-62) and Portugal, another unusual match, against Ukraine (77-79). Cuba was not the only one, although it was the most prominent. Because, after more than half a century, they have once again defeated one of their great enemies, the United States.