2^nd WMC Women’s Basketball – Camp Pendleton (USA) – Two in a row for Brazil!

CAMP PENDLETON (USA) – On July 25, the 2^nd WMC Women’s Basketball ended up in Camp Pendleton with the final games and the Opening Ceremony. The most important game was the clash between USA and Brazil, the only two teams who remained undefeated until now. The winner of this game would become the new Women’s Basketball Military World Champion! And as soon as the game started, the US players managed to control the game! After the first quarter, USA was leading 17/13. The US team carried on to maintain the pressure on Brazil and at the halftime, USA was now leading with 7 points (31-24). Brazil reacted directly after the beginning of the 3^rd quarter and move within one point of the US team at the end of this 3^rd quarter (44/43 for USA). The last quarter of this final game was expected to be explosive! In the beginning of the 4^th quarter, for the first time Brazil took the lead twice (45/44; 48/46).

But the strong US team reacted quickly and for minutes before the end of the game, the scoreboard was indicating 55-48 in favor of USA. 45 seconds before the end of the game, Brazil scored an important 3-points to lead 59-58. USA scored 2 points 30 seconds before the end of the game (60-59)! And 7 seconds before the final whistle the US team committed a stupid foul, giving the last possession to Brazil. It was the moment chosen by Brazil #18, Sgt Debora Fernandes Da Costa to score the last 2-points of this final and to give its second title to Brazil, after the 1^st WMC Women’s Basketball last year in Angers, for the greatest delight of their Chief of Mission, Major Faria Da Silva!

What an amazing performance from the Brazilian players. Congratulations to 2^nd Lt Silva Maciel (Team Captain), Lt Bauerfeldt Lopes (Team Coach), WO 1^st Aleluia Lourenco (Assistant Coach), 2^nd Lt Silva de Souza (Medical Dr) and the players (Sgt Dos Santos Coelhic, Sgt Martins Da Costa, Sgt Garvao Zakreski, Sgt Costa De Souza, Sgt Gustavo, Sgt De Souza Carcavalli, Sgt Honorio De Queiroz, Sgt Felippus de Souza, Sgt Regina Leite, Sgt Caetano De Souza, Sgt Justino and Sgt Fernandes Da Costa).

In the other games, China defeated Germany 94-32 and confirmed their bronze medal, while France won against Canada 66-27.

The WVP trophy was awarded to Sgt Gilmara Justino, #12 of the Brazilian team, while Team France received the Fair-Play award for their performances and their behavior on the field!

The 2^nd WMC Women’s Basketball officially ended up with the Closing Ceremony. The Maj-Gen Kaiping Ma, CISM OCR, took the floor to thank all the participants of this WMC and wished a special thank to Steven Dinote, US Chief of Delegation, and all the organizers of this wonderful championship! It was then time for Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, to declare the 2^nd WMC Women’s Basketball officially closed!

Final Ranking:

1. Brazil

2. USA

3. China

4. France

5. Germany

6. Canada

All the competitions including Opening and Closing Ceremony can be seen again here and all links to the videos, schedules, pictures, livescore updates and other information can be found here.

For additional information as news stories and more, click here.

Thank you USA for this wonderful event!!

(Pictures: Maxime Morlet, CISM Photographer)

(Source: CISM Communication and Media Department)