Basketball On The Internet.

AND that's why we celebrate when we beat the USA. Because usually, the place where the game was born and with its population of 314 million, has a slight edge on where the game is scorned by many of our 22 million.

It's timely to remember, too, with today's final of the ANZ Championship, that girls and young women in Oz are usually lured first to traditionally entrenched netball.

So overnight, the Australian girls team at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia, have nothing to feel bad about, beaten 79-78 by the USA in their classic semi final.

Ironically it was the same scoreline as the 1990 men's World Championship game in Argentina where the Boomers first ALMOST beat the USA, this one in Kazan a very different story though.

In Buenos Aires, the Boomers had led for the bulk of the game and only had to hang on. But couldn't.

In Kazan, the "emerging Opals" - ugh, again, what a name to lumber our talented kids with - had to battle back from a 17-point deficit in the last quarter!

Marianna Tolo, Steph Cumming and then Alice Kunek led the fight, the latter with 11 points in three minutes.

They tied it up, then even took the lead before the Americans snatched it back. We had two shots which caught the rim and could have rolled in but that wasn't the way the ball was bouncing.

Now it's a Bronze Medal clash with Chinese Taipei on Tuesday, the US again, the one which got away.

YOU had to love this story about Baron Davis at adelaidenow.com.au even if you don't love his basketball.

I enjoyed him as a terrific player in his prime and he may still have something to offer. But very little will ever top this: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/new-york-knicks-star-baron-davis-abducted-by-aliens/story-fnii09gt-1226679025835

To paraphrase the infamous scene from "When Harry Met Sally", I'll have what he's having...

BREAKERS championship starters Cedric Jackson and Thomas Abercrombie went head-to-head today at the NBA Las Vegas summer league, with Aber's Phoenix Suns coming out on top 82-69.

Jackson is playing for Portland in Vegas, having previously suited with Miami Heat's team in the Orlando summer league.

And in the wake of Cleveland's 70-62 win over the Lakers yesterday, Cavs coach Jamahl Mosley had this to say about Boomers Olympic starter Matthew Dellavedova.

"He’s a worker. He’s a pit bull," Mosley said.

"He’s trying to make everyone better, and he’s a leader without having to say much. I was very happy with what I saw of him."

THIS just in. After sticking the game-winning basket for Mount Gambier in the SEABL thriller against Knox on Friday, Ben Allen has finally shed the "Rip Van Allen" nickname.

He is now, officially, "Mr Clutch".

Ten are apparently even considering him as the logical host for a proposed basketball panel show, "After the Siren".