Yugo coach out to prove who’s best

INDIANAPOLIS — Once upon a time, Yugoslavia was a country made up of Serbians, Montenegrins, Croatians, Bosnians, and Slovenes. That was before the nation broke up because of civil war. Today, Yugoslavia is only part of what it once was. Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia are now separate entities.

At the 14th World Basketball Championships here, the Yugoslavian team is composed of only Serbs and Montenegrins. Star forward Dejan Bodiroga, for instance, is a Serbian whose parents immigrated from the Bosnian region of Herzegovina.

If only Croatians Toni Kukoc, Dino Raja and Zan Tabak–all National Basketball Association (NBA) veterans–were in Yugoslavia’s lineup, coach Svetislav Pesic would be a lot more optimistic of his chances to beat undefeated Argentina in the finals today.

Pesic, who coached Germany at the 1994 World Championships and whose son Marko is in the German roster, welcomed the chance "to show which is the best team in the world." He called Argentina "the best team in the tournament" and said "there couldn’t be a better finals." So if Yugoslavia defeats Argentina, there will be no doubt which is the world’s No. 1 basketball nation.

In an interview, Pesic said his team trained only six weeks but is ready to retain the world title. If Yugoslavia upends Argentina, the crown will be its third in the last four stagings of the quadrennial meet. Yugoslavia is assured of a 10th medal in 12 appearances at the World Championships.

Depth is the Slavs’ biggest asset with 11 different players scoring in double figures in eight games so far. The team is bannered by five NBA players–Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic of Sacramento, Predrag Drobnak and Vladimir Radmanovic of Seattle, and Marko Jaric of the Los Angeles Clippers. In Yugoslavia’s come-from-behind 89-78 semifinal win over New Zealand yesterday, 6-11 Dejan Koturovic netted 18 points to lead five teammates in twin digits.

Kiwis coach Tab Baldwin predicted an "epic and phenomenal" finals. "Yugoslavia and Argentina are the two most complete teams in the tournament," he noted. "Argentina must defend tough and must contend with the Yugoslavian big men. Yugoslavia, on the other hand, must contend with Argentina’s quickness."

Argentina hasn’t been beaten in eight outings here. It advances to the finals for the first time since claiming the gold medal at the inaugural World Championships in 1950. Argentina’s best showing since 1950 was sixth place in 1967.

Yugoslavia, in contrast, has shown signs of vulnerability. The Yugos lost two-point decisions to Spain and Puerto Rico before ousting the US, 81-78, in the quarterfinals.

Argentina made history by becoming the first team ever to beat a US contingent of NBA players here last Sept. 4. Now, the Argentines are in the threshold of another historic feat. They’re a win away from capturing the world title.

Argentina coach Ruben Magnano’s hopes hinge on whether or not 6-5 crack guard Emanuel (Manu) Ginobili can play against Yugoslavia. Hampered by a sprained ankle, he saw action in only 15 minutes in Argentina’s 86-80 semifinal decision over Germany yesterday. Ginobili, 25,was San Antonio’s second round pick in 1995 but will only make his Spurs debut this season. He’s played the last four years in Italy. Another Spurs draftee Luis Scola is in the Argentine lineup.

Two Argentinians boast NBA credentials. Forward Ruben Wolkowysky has suited up for Dallas and Seattle. Guard Pepe Sanchez played for Philadelphia and Atlanta and may join Detroit this season.

Phoenix Suns assistant coach and former Italian league coach Mike D’Antoni described Ginobili as "the best player in Europe right now and a starter as soon as he gets to San Antonio." Ginobili, a southpaw, dismissed comparisons to Peja Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki. He’ll probably agree he plays more like former Lithuanian star Sarunas Marciulionis.

"It’s so important we do a good job," said Ginobili, quoted by Bob Kravitz. "These days, it’s a hard life in Argentina. The problems are very big. People stealing, corruption, revolution, and the dollar rate is so low, poverty is almost 50 percent. It’s not a good moment in our history. In Argentina, the people look toward the athletes and sports with lots of pride and they feel better when we do well so I know the whole country will be looking to us to do well in this tournament."

Pesic said the Yugoslavs are "highly motivated" to bring the world title back home. But so are the Argentines whose last taste of the crown was 52 years ago.