Olympic games, quarterfinals: Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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Spain recovered its trademark defensive strength and catapulted into the Olympic men's basketball semifinals with a 72-59 victory over Croatia in their do-or-die quarterfinal on Wednesday. Spain raised its record to 5-1 overall and advanced for the first time since 1984 to the semifinals, to play either Lithuania or China. Despite a strong group stage, Croatia was eliminated from medal contention its first Olympics since 1996. There was little drama considering that Spain led 12-1 to start the game and only let its advantage dip below single digits very briefly early in the second quarter. Pau Gasol dominated the first half and led the winners with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Felipe Reyes of Real Madrid came off the bench for 13 points, as did Jose Manuel Calderon for 10 more. Spain's defense was the real story, however, holding Croatia to 38 points after three quarters, by which time the outcome was settled. Marko Banic of Bilbao Basket led Croatia with 15 points, while Zoran Planinic of CSKA Moscow added 12.
Spain started 17-year-old Ricky Rubio of DKV Joventut at point guard and fed Pau Gasol almost exclusively to take a 5-0 lead. Croatia waited almost 3 minutes to score on a free throw by Ukic, but Jorge Garbajosa of Khimki Moscow answered for Spain with a triple. While Spain's defense rocked, Croatia couldn't stop Gasol from making it 12-1 on a backdoor flip-in and alley-oop dunk. Marko Banic of Bilbao Basket finally found Croatia's first basket after 6 minutes, but Jose Manuel Calderon responded with a triple, too. Planinic beat the clock from downtown to get Croatia within 17-9 before Alex Mumbru shot from even further as Spain closed the first quarter ahead 22-11. A jumper by Sandro Nicevic and 3 free throws by Davor Kus got Croatia within 24-15 to start the second quarter. Calderon's second triple, a Felipe Reyes jumper and another Gasol dunk soon sustained Spain's lead at 30-18, however. Spain kept looking for Gasols, with younger brother Marc's first basket and a loose ball put-back by Rubio providing a high lead at 37-21, but Croatia made up 5 points in a row to cut the difference to 37-26 at the break.
Garbajosa's baseline jumper and a triple by Fernandez re-established Spain's highest lead yet, 42-26. Banic again got Croatia's first basket of the half, and after Garbajosa and Kus exchanged triples, the score was 47-32. Croatia's zone succeeded in stopping Pau Gasol inside, but his brother Marc boosted the difference to 50-32. Croatia reacted with open baskets by Kresimir Loncar and Ukic, who also hit free throws to cut the difference to 51-32 after three quarters. Marko Tomas buried a triple to open the fourth quarter at 51-41. As Spain's defense tightened, however, Fernandez quickly scored twice, Gasol hit a hook, Mumbru drove for a layup, Reyes scored inside and Calderon hit a running jumper for the game's high lead, 63-41. With 5 minutes left, the outcome was clear. Spain was back on-form and headed for the semifinals against either Lithuania or China on Friday.
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Euroleague.net
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