Best FIBA commercial ever – Manu Ginobili “The Dove”

This is in my opinion the best international basketball commercial ever.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXOAZJvEEXA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXOAZJvEEXA)

A little bit of context: in the 2002 Indiana World Cup, after beating the United States for the first time, Argentina lost the final against Yugoslavia with some really controversial calls at the end of the game, which knocked Argentina down. Manu was unable to play due to injury.

But the revenge came soon: in the 2004 Olympic Games. Argentina’s first game was against Serbia, former Yugoslavia. A very tense and close game, in which Serbia went ahead 82-81 with 3.8 seconds left on the clock. Then came the most iconic shot in the history of Argentine basketball and perhaps of Manu’s career. The beginning of the path that led Argentina to win the gold.

This commercial imagines in a very funny way the coach’s talk just before the play (in the real game there was no timeout).

Here is a translation:

**Coach:** We are against the ropes! There are three seconds left to turn it around. Leo, give the ball to Puma on the left side. Puma, attack the number 4 that’s made of wood, give him a spin, and when there are 0.6 seconds left, there you throw it to Manu who is coming through the middle with a guy on top of him.

Manu, you get the easy part! You receive, you dive like a dove, and in the air, with two tenths of a second left, you score and we win. Okey? There we all go, we throw ourselves on top of him, they want to kill themselves, people celebrate like crazy…

Come on, it’s not difficult, man, hey, listen to me, we can do it!

**Reporter (real transmission):** …and Argentina goes for the miracle. The Puma takes it, he makes a detoooour, pay attention… It’s the last chance Argentina has! Ginobili with a doooooooooove. ARGENTINAAAAAAAA! From which nest did you come out dove of peace? I saw you fly!

**Poster:** The national team has those things that no one can imagine.

by NicoSpurs