All eyes on Team USA after freak accident

(PROMINENT Nueva Ecija lawyer Floro F. Florendo lost a short and silent bout with the Big C last Saturday. My friend since boyhood succumbed to colon cancer. He would have turned 63 on Nov. 6. Floro’s remains were laid to rest at the catholic cemetery of our hometown, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija last Wednesday. Following in the footsteps of his late father, Judge Florencio Florendo who also served as Cuyapo mayor, Floro chose to spend his legal career in the service of the people. At the time of his death, he was chief provincial prosecutor based in Cabanatuan City. Farewell “Bok.” You will be sorely missed.)

SACRAMENTO, California—A freak injury stunned Team USA last Friday night.

Arguably the most watched national squad for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Team USA momentarily went into an emotional funk when Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George went down.

The 6-foot-10 George suffered a fractured right leg after contesting a layup by Houston Rockets Guard James Harden during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas.

George and Harden were crowd favorites during the NBA’s preseason game between the Pacers and the Rockets at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay  last year.

When the accident occurred with 9:33 left in the fourth quarter, the rest of the game was suspended by coach Mike Kryzyzewski. Coach K has been his usual benevolent taskmaster while the team takes form at the Thomas and Mack Center in Vegas.

Team USA, the most recent winner of the World Cup known previously as  Fiba World Championship, is already minus the services of NBA superstars like Blake Griffin because of injury; Kevin Love due to uncertain contract status; and current MVP Kawhi Leonard who simply wants to rest after a grueling season.

The Indiana mainstay is recuperating after surgery at a local Vegas hospital, but his absence will impact Team USA and the future of the Pacers’ franchise.

George’s injury in the service of the national team also brings into focus the desire of NBA team owners to keep older players healthy in the off season.

The owners’ current attitude has resulted in Team USA’s tack of looking at younger and hungrier NBA stars willing to don the national colors at the World Cup in Spain from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.

These players include Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.

The prevailing league mind-set also has trickled down to teams whose rosters include international players.

It has been reported that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has talked Dirk Nowitzki into skipping his stint with Germany.

Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs coach/general manager Gregg Popovich has reportedly persuaded Tony Parker “to reject overtures” from France.

It has also been said that Popo has “denied permission” to Manu Ginobili, who is recovering from a leg stress fracture to play for Argentina.

Argentina is bracketed in Group B along with the Philippines, Croatia, Greece, Puerto Rico and Senegal.

The winner of the 24-nation tournament earns an automatic berth to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.