While basketball has caused division for host Philippines, FIBA World Cup debutant South Sudan hopes its campaign fosters unity and peace for the youngest nation in the world
MANILA, Philippines – While playing in the Philippines where basketball has caused division, South Sudan uses its own FIBA World Cup campaign to bring its people together.
Bunched in Group B, South Sudan fell in overtime to No. 20 Puerto Rico in its World Cup debut before it broke through by thrashing No. 27 China – a victory celebrated by the 12-year-old nation, the youngest in the world. “Whenever the basketball team plays, it is literally the one time when everybody comes together. There are no more tribes, no more, ‘I’m from so-and-so region.’ Everyone is wearing the same flag and that is South Sudan.”The same, though, could not be said about World Cup co-host Philippines.
“For us, that is why it is so much bigger than basketball and we’re going to continue to do our best and use that as a tool to promote the image of our country.”Although South Sudan lost its final group stage game against Serbia and fell to 1-2, it remains in the running for a historic Olympic berth as the highest-placed African nation earns an automatic ticket to the Paris Games.
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