By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Incredible Pau! Amazing Pau! Outstanding Pau! Pau Gasol made his best game with the Spanish national team and led his team to the final (80-75 vs France) taking the revenge for last season’s defeat.
France beat Spain last season at home in the quarterfinal of the World Cup and Pau Gasol and his teammates wanted to take the revenge. Their rivalry is on fire, while France won also the semifinal of the Eurobasket in 2013. Spain on the other hand celebrated the win in Eurobasket 2011’s final and Olympics’ quarterfinal in 2012. This time Pau Gasol (40 points with 12/21 shots, 11 rebounds) played almost alone vs France and he beat them!
France tried to set the tone early with Nando De Colo (14p) leading the way and a 13-6 start. However thanks to Pau Gasol who finished the first half with 13 points on 5/7 shots and also to Sergio Rodriguez who came from the bench and changed the tempo, Spain got right back into the game.
France led by three points (20-17) at the end of the first quarter and by one (33-32) at the end of the half, with Mickael Gelabale also coming from the bench and contributing 7 crucial points. The close fight of the two teams continued in the second half and despite a great crowd in Lille supporting the Eurobasket’s hosts, the Spaniards demonstrated their character.
Still with two minutes left in the third quarter, France managed to build for the first time a double digits lead 51-40 lead with a 12-1 run, which was sparked by a big three of Tony Parker and ended with an other three by Joffrey Lauvergne. Spain cut the lead to 6 points (54-48) and the last period started with France having an eight points advantage (56-48).
Spain tried to cut the lead targeting Pau Gasol in the offense and within four minutes run a 10-0 to their lead (62-61, 37′). The leader of Spain was outstanding doing excellent job against Rudy Gobert, but the one who made the crucial basket 16″ before the end (66-63) was Sergio Rodriguez. France did everything wrong during the last minutes until Nikola Batum showed up. He made a huge three to 66-66 (14″) and in the next possession Gobert took his revenge blocking Pau Gasol!
In the overtime, Spain was waiting everything again by Gasol who was playing one vs one against Rudy Gobert who had four fouls drawn. However, Gobert was very good in the defense and fouled out one minute before the end of the extra period. When Gobert was on the bench Pau scored twice after an offensive rebound giving a 3-point lead (78-75). Batum made 0/3 free throws 15 seconds to go and gifted the vixtory to Spain.