South Sudan’s Fiba World Cup staff continues to encourage conflict-torn countrymen

South Sudan ends historic Fiba World Cup marketing campaign with an Olympics berth. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

They fought in opposition to all odds, overcoming even obstacles past the basketball court docket. They turned a unifying image of hope for a divided nation. And now, they’re going to the Olympics.

Theirs is the story Gilas Pilipinas had hoped to put in writing.

Carlik Jones and his South Sudan teammates dominated Angola on Saturday, 101-78, and received a prize cherished by groups within the Fiba World Cup that had no enterprise nursing championship hopes: an outright ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I’m so glad we got it done. We knew after we won the first game that we had a really good chance to qualify [for the Olympics] and we kind of just locked in on what we needed to do and I’m glad we got it done,” stated Jones. “It’s a blessing, you know, to play in my first World Cup games and to walk out in the history [books] is unbelievable.”

Perhaps Jones was speaking about his accomplishments when he spoke of leaving the match as a part of basketball lore. Two days in the past, he was a rebound shy of changing into the primary participant to tally a triple-double within the World Cup. On Saturday, Jones poured in 26 factors, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out 15 assists to tie the file for many assists in a single recreation, which Croatia’s Toni Kukoc set within the 1994 World Cup.

The reigning NBA G-League Most Valuable Player additionally turned the primary participant within the World Cup to tally a minimum of 10 assists in three completely different video games.

“Unbelievable, on both ends. I didn’t know I had 15 assists, that’s crazy. But you know, it’s mostly about the team, man,” Jones stated.

Most possible, although, he was speaking about South Sudan’s feat.

“We just qualified for the Olympics, man, I’m gonna enjoy this night,” Jones stated.

The Philippines additionally discovered a cause to have fun Saturday evening.

Jordan Clarkson celebrates together with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates within the win over China within the Fiba World Cup classification. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

The Filipinos turned again Asian heavyweight China—a rival the nation at all times relishes beating—in a late-night match, 96-75.

It was a win that got here too late in a match the place the Philippines had huge hopes, nevertheless it was nonetheless a optimistic last chapter authored by a staff that limped into Saturday’s recreation on 4 straight losses.

Jordan Clarkson fueled Gilas Pilipinas with 34 factors, 24 of which he poured in a 3rd quarter the place the Filipinos broke away.

The celebration over that win, nevertheless, can be muted. The Philippines didn’t get what it got here to the World Cup for, what it hosted the occasion for. There can be no outright Olympic spot for a rustic that final performed basketball within the Summer Games in 1972.

Meanwhile, South Sudan is on its strategy to Paris regardless of changing into a rustic solely in 2011. Two years after gaining independence from Sudan, the landlocked Central African nation was plunged right into a violent civil battle that lasted about half a decade earlier than peace offers have been brokered in an try to finish the bloodshed. South Sudan continues to expertise what its authorities calls intercommunal violence, or clashes between opposing political teams. In March, nevertheless, Amnesty International described these conflicts as being “caused by ethno-political wrangling and competition amongst the elite over access to power and financial resources.”

Hope, positivity

Bust a transfer for those who’re headed to #Paris2024! ???? #FIBAWC x #WinForSouthSudan ???????? pic.twitter.com/4vaLJLjRVd

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ???? (@FIBAWC) September 2, 2023

Amnesty International additionally blamed these bloody clashes, which are sometimes accompanied by human rights abuses, for the dire humanitarian state of affairs the South Sudan is experiencing. The Global Conflict Tracker estimates that “in 2023, more than 7.7 million people, or two-thirds of the population, faced severe food insecurity—the worst hunger crisis the country has ever faced.”

Members of the South Sudan nationwide staff had stated that they have been being fueled within the World Cup by the hope and positivity they have been offering for his or her countrymen.

“The reason why this is so important and means a lot is because we have so much division, a lot of trouble, a lot of conflict going on in our country,” ahead Kuany Ngor Kuany stated beforehand. “Whenever the basketball team plays, it’s literally the one time when everybody comes together. There are no more tribes, no more ‘I’m from the so-so region.’ Everyone is wearing the same flag—and that is South Sudan.”

They will get to offer extra inspiration in Paris.

South Sudan emerged as one of the best African staff to earn an outright ticket to the trendy French capital with a 3-2 file, forward of Egypt (2-3), which misplaced to New Zealand, 88-86, in its last recreation on the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Are you serious? We’re going to the Olympics! That’s crazy, man,” stated nationwide coach Royal Ivey, holding again his tears after the sport at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“A year ago we were practicing outside, with eagles flying around while we were practicing. Courts were flooded. To go from there and come in front of these fans in the Philippines? I’m on cloud nine right now,” Ivey added. “I never thought we’d be here. We’ll continue to celebrate, but yeah, this is literally the best day of our lives,” Kuany stated on Saturday.

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