Jan Zidek, son of Czech basketball legend Jiři “George” Zidek, is painstakingly forging his own path to greatness in the sport, and leading his country to gold at the World University Games in Chengdu on August 6 has definitely become a major highlight in this journey.
The power forward scored a game-high 24 points, shooting 57 percent from the three-point range, as the Czech Republic enjoyed a slim 69-67 win over Brazil.
“It was a great game,” he told AIPS.
“It’s an amazing feeling finishing here with gold.
NEUTRAL SPECTATORS
The sold-out crowd at the Fenghuangshan Sports Park Gymnasium were treated to an exciting edge-of your-seat encounter as both sides fought neck and neck for the ultimate prize.
The fact that China was not in the men’s final did not stop them from having a great time. They cheered equally for the Czech Republic and Brazil, roaring at every point scored or missed, unlike the day before when they cheered for their country and booed for Japan in the women’s final
“I loved the atmosphere and I did love every game here. I think the Chinese people were great fans, great supporters and created a great atmosphere and I really loved it,” Zidek praised.
A Chinese fan, Hao Lin said: “This is definitely a fierce competition. I wasn’t sure who would win until the very last second. I came here to support both sides, but of course I am the biggest fan of our Chinese team.”
A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
His son Yulong had a soft spot for the Czech Republic though. “I like their name better, it sounds special,” he smiled. The way he jumped around, one could tell he had just experienced one of the best moments of his young life.
Wanling Zhou was watching a live basketball game for the first time in her life and she enjoyed the thrill delivered by the Czech Republic and Brazil.
“I had an incredible time,” she said with enthusiasm after the game.
She added: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Being a volunteer of the Games, Zhou also had the opportunity to take selfies with some of the players after the medal ceremony. Her favourite on the night was Brazil’s Caio De Souza Pacheco.
FIERCE COMPETITION
The Czech Republic and Brazil were tied on points at least once in each quarter as the lead changed hands several times.
“Let’s go!” a small Czech delegation, including the women’s basketball team, cheered. Right in front of them an even smaller Brazilian delegation also screamed their support for their country.
Brazil arrived in the final unbeaten, getting rid of even the defending champions the USA in the semi-finals, while the Czech Republic’s only defeat prior to the final was against the USA in the group phase.
With 44 seconds left to play the score was 67-67, but free throws from Zidek and Nikolaos Noumeros secured the win for the Czech Republic. Paulo Henrique Barbosa Junior scored a team-high 17 points for Brazil.
In those last seconds, Zidek said he was “just relying on my teammates and myself because I think we had a great strong team for the whole tournament and we played together till the end that’s why we won it”.
He added: “It means a lot to play basketball on such a big stage, at such a big event. I think Chengdu did such a great job in organising this tournament and being here with this special group of guys and winning it all means a lot to me.”
BASKETBALL FAMILY
Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Zidek began playing with USK Praha (Prague) at the age of nine and stayed with that club throughout his junior career.
He won the championship in the Czech Republic’s second division with BK Wolves Radotin during the 2018-19 season before starting his college career in the NCAA, playing for Pepperdine Waves.
The 23-year-old will now spend his final college year at Chattanooga before turning professional. He is eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Zidek’s father won a national championship playing for UCLA in 1995, then was a first-round NBA Draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets – becoming the first Czech player ever drafted by an NBA team. He played three seasons in the NBA before returning to Europe.
Zidek’s grandfather Jiři, who passed away in 2022, is regarded as one of the country’s greatest ever basketball players and was named as the Best Czech Player of the 20th Century. He also became the first Czech player to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019.
“My dad and also my grandfather taught me so much about basketball,” Zidek once said in an interview.
“In our family it’s like a daily topic, basketball.”
In Chengdu, Zidek told AIPS that he is pretty sure his father watched the game, “but I will for sure call him then also we will talk when I get back home.”
While he is yet to break into the senior national team, Zidek, who has represented his home country at both the U18 and U20 levels, was able to reintroduce himself and show what he is capable of in national team colours.
The basketball bronze medal of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games went to the USA after they beat Argentina 102-91.
Credit: AIPS Media
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