# 1978 FIBA World Championship

The 1978 FIBA World Championship was the 8th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. The tournament was hosted by the Philippines from October 1 to 14, 1978 in Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City (both cities in Metro Manila).
It was the first FIBA World Championship (now called the FIBA Basketball World Cup) held in Asia.

## Host selection

On July 11, 1974 at the FIBA Congress held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Philippines was unanimously chosen as host after Argentina and Spain withdrew their bids.

## Venues

| Metro Manila | Metro Manila | Philippines | Philippines |
| Manila | Quezon City | Metro Manila | Metro Manila |
| Rizal Memorial Coliseum Capacity: 8,000 | Araneta Coliseum Capacity: 25,000* | Metro Manila | ManilaQuezon City |
(*) Temporarily reduced to 10,000 for the finals due to safety reasons.

## Competing nations

| Group A | Group B | Group C | Semifinal round |
| Canada  South Korea  Senegal  Yugoslavia | Brazil  China  Italy  Puerto Rico | Australia  Czechoslovakia  Dominican Republic  United States | Philippines – host  Soviet Union – defending champion |

## Preliminary round
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 325 | 244 | +81 | 6 | Semifinal round |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 260 | 216 | +44 | 5 | Semifinal round |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 2 | 240 | 310 | −70 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | Senegal | 3 | 0 | 3 | 190 | 245 | −55 | 3 | Classification round |
* October 2
| Canada | 105–69 | South Korea |
| Scoring by half: 52-42, 53-27 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 2
| Yugoslavia | 99–64 | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 50-27, 49-37 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 3
| South Korea | 85–121 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 44-65, 41-56 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 3
| Canada | 60–42 | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 36-17, 24-25 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 4
| South Korea | 86–84 (OT) | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 36-33, 38-41 Overtime: 12-10 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 4
| Yugoslavia | 105–95 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 55-47, 50-48 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 0 | 342 | 269 | +73 | 6 | Semifinal round |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 302 | 263 | +39 | 5 | Semifinal round |
| 3 | Puerto Rico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 275 | 297 | −22 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | China | 3 | 0 | 3 | 296 | 386 | −90 | 3 | Classification round |
* October 2
| Brazil | 154–97 | China |
| Scoring by half: 65-35, 89-62 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 2
| Puerto Rico | 80–93 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 43-44, 37-49 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 3
| China | 104–107 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 44-62, 60-45 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 3
| Italy | 84–88 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 45-38, 39-50 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 4
| Puerto Rico | 88–100 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 43-53, 45-47 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 4
| China | 95–125 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 49-60, 46-65 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 277 | 219 | +58 | 6 | Semifinal round |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 220 | 217 | +3 | 5 | Semifinal round |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 229 | 248 | −19 | 4 | Classification round |
| 4 | Dominican Republic | 3 | 0 | 3 | 218 | 260 | −42 | 3 | Classification round |
* October 1
| Australia | 75–77 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 37-38, 38-39 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 2
| Australia | 71–68 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 38-32, 33-36 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 2
| Dominican Republic | 65–104 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 24-49, 41-55 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 3
| Australia | 74–72 | Dominican Republic |
| Scoring by half: 37-26, 37-46 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 3
| United States | 96–79 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 46-46, 50-33 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 4
| Dominican Republic | 81–82 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 44-44, 37-38 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city

## Classification round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 9 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 533 | 444 | +89 | 10 |
| 10 | Puerto Rico | 5 | 4 | 1 | 546 | 481 | +65 | 9 |
| 11 | China | 5 | 2 | 3 | 495 | 516 | −21 | 7 |
| 12 | Dominican Republic | 5 | 2 | 3 | 475 | 485 | −10 | 7 |
| 13 | South Korea | 5 | 1 | 4 | 438 | 521 | −83 | 6 |
| 14 | Senegal | 5 | 1 | 4 | 414 | 454 | −40 | 6 |
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: China 1–0 Dominican Republic
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: South Korea 1–0 Senegal
* October 6
| South Korea | 90–102 | China |
| Scoring by half: 46-58, 44-44 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 6
| Senegal | 76–80 | Dominican Republic |
| Scoring by half: 40-41, 36-39 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 8
| South Korea | 93–113 | Dominican Republic |
| Scoring by half: 44-50, 49-63 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 9
| China | 95–118 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 54-57, 41-61 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 9
| South Korea | 87–119 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 48-61, 39-58 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 7
| Puerto Rico | 104–118 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 52-60, 52-58 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 11
| China | 79–89 | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 39-42, 40-47 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 11
| South Korea | 82–103 | Czechoslovakia |
| Scoring by half: 42-49, 40-54 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 12
| Dominican Republic | 89–119 | Puerto Rico |
| Scoring by half: 38-61, 51-58 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 12
| Czechoslovakia | 112–82 | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 59-46, 53-36 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 13
| Puerto Rico | 97–83 | Senegal |
| Scoring by half: 43-43, 54-40 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon city
* October 13
| Dominican Republic | 112–115 | China |
| Scoring by half: 62-57, 50-58 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

## Semifinal round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Yugoslavia | 7 | 7 | 0 | 731 | 645 | +86 | 14 | Final |
| 2 | Soviet Union | 7 | 6 | 1 | 691 | 550 | +141 | 13 | Final |
| 3 | Brazil | 7 | 5 | 2 | 648 | 571 | +77 | 12 | Third place playoff |
| 4 | Italy | 7 | 4 | 3 | 609 | 582 | +27 | 11 | Third place playoff |
| 5 | United States | 7 | 3 | 4 | 612 | 605 | +7 | 10 | Fifth place playoff |
| 6 | Canada | 7 | 2 | 5 | 605 | 644 | −39 | 9 | Fifth place playoff |
| 7 | Australia | 7 | 1 | 6 | 566 | 632 | −66 | 8 | Seventh place playoff |
| 8 | Philippines (H) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 521 | 754 | −233 | 7 | Seventh place playoff |
* October 6
| Brazil | 69–62 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 30-34, 39-28 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 6
| United States | 80–81 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 39-47, 41-34 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 6
| Philippines | 101–117 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 45-54, 56-63 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 6
| Soviet Union | 112–67 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 56-35, 56-32 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 7
| Soviet Union | 110–63 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 44-30, 66-33 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 7
| Italy | 76–108 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 36-53, 40-55 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 7
| Australia | 78–108 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 27-59, 51-49 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 8
| Soviet Union | 107–85 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 64-36, 43-49 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 8
| Yugoslavia | 100–93 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 48-41, 52-52 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 8
| Australia | 69–87 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 35-44, 34-43 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 9
| Philippines | 72–119 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 34-59, 38-60 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 9
| Canada | 90–96 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 50-51, 40-45 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 10
| United States | 90–92 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 46-39, 44-53 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 10
| Yugoslavia | 105–92 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 49-47, 56-45 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 10
| Philippines | 75–112 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 30-54, 45-58 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 10
| Australia | 79–91 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 28-44, 51-47 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 11
| Australia | 97–52 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 48-21, 49-31 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 11
| Soviet Union | 79–69 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 46-38, 33-31 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 11
| Yugoslavia | 91–87 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 44-46, 47-41 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 12
| United States | 76–97 | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 37-47, 39-50 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 12
| Canada | 99–88 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 53-40, 46-48 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 13
| United States | 100–70 | Philippines |
| Scoring by half: 50-36, 50-34 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 13
| Soviet Union | 94–85 | Brazil |
| Scoring by half: 46-40, 48-45 |||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* October 13
| Italy | 100–83 | Canada |
| Scoring by half: 46-47, 54-36 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila
* October 13
| Australia | 101–105 | Yugoslavia |
| Scoring by half: 41-56, 60-49 |||
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila

## Final round
### Seventh place playoff

* October 14
| Philippines | 74–92 | Australia |
| Scoring by half: 36–38, 38–54 |||
| Pts: Cruz 14 | | Pts: Riddle 18 |
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila Referees: Artenik Arabadjan (BUL), Kruno Brumen (YUG)

### Fifth place playoff

* October 14
| Canada | 94–96 | United States |
| Scoring by half: 50–47, 44–49 |||
| Pts: Rautins 20 | | Pts: Kiffin 25 |
* Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila Referees: Paulo dos Anjos (BRA), Kim Young-han (KOR)

### Third place playoff

* October 14
| Brazil | 86–85 | Italy |
| Scoring by half: 50–45, 36–40 |||
| Pts: Marcel 22 | | Pts: Bariviera, Bertolotti 21 |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Attendance: 10,000 Referees: Mikhail Dovidov (USSR), Hugh Richardson (USA)

### Final

* October 14
| Yugoslavia | 82–81 (OT) | Soviet Union |
| Scoring by half: 41–41, 32–32 Overtime: 9–8 |||
| Pts: Dalipagić 21 | | Pts: Tkachenko 14 |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Attendance: 10,000 Referees: Ron Omori (USA), Don Cline (CAN)

## Final standings

| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Yugoslavia | 10–0 |
| 2 | Soviet Union | 6–2 |
| 3 | Brazil | 8–2 |
| 4 | Italy | 6–4 |
| 5 | United States | 6–4 |
| 6 | Canada | 4–6 |
| 7 | Australia | 4–6 |
| 8 | Philippines | 0–8 |
| 9 | Czechoslovakia | 5–2 |
| 10 | Puerto Rico | 4–3 |
| 11 | China | 2–5 |
| 12 | Dominican Republic | 2–5 |
| 13 | South Korea | 1–6 |
| 14 | Senegal | 1–6 |

## Awards

* 1978 FIBA World Championship winner
* Yugoslavia 2nd title
* Most Valuable Player
* Dražen Dalipagić

### All-Tournament Team

* Krešimir Ćosić
* Dražen Dalipagić
* Dragan Kićanović
* Oscar Schmidt
* Vladimir Tkachenko

## Top scorers (ppg)

* Kamil Brabenec (Czechoslovakia) 26.9
* Zhang Weiping (People's Republic of China) 25.1
* Choi Bu-Young (Korea) 21.1
* Dražen Dalipagić (Yugoslavia) 20
* Oscar Schmidt (Brazil) 19.0
* Leo Rautins (Canada) 17.9
* Marcel De Souza (Brazil) 17.7
* Dragan Kićanović (Yugoslavia) 16.5
* Renzo Bariviera (Italy) 16.2
* Marcos Antonio Leite "Marquinhos" (Brazil) 14.7