By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A game-winning tip in by Marquinhos, five seconds before the final buzzer made Brazil clinch its first victory in the Olympic tournament, by upsetting Spain, 66 – 65.
With some truly sublime play-making, Marcelino Huertas executed his team’s attacking plan beautifully, finishing with 11 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds. He didn’t commit any turnover at all.
Marquinhos added 10 points and 5 rebounds, while Augusto Lima dropped 9 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, four of them on offense.
The double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) of Pau Gasol, wasn’t enough for Spain that also saw Sergio Rodriguez (10 points, 5 assists) and Sergio Llull (11 points) score in double-digit numbers.
After a, more or less, balanced first half, the tournament’s hosts began to take control of what was happening on court, even leading by 11 points, 45 – 56, in the beginning of a fourth quarter. Of course, Spain wouldn’t give up that easily.
When some much sought perimeter baskets arrived (Spain finished the match with a poor 5/19), the “Furia Roja” draw closer. Sergio Llull then gave his team its first lead in the second half, sinking the three-pointer for the 64 – 63 and then making it 65-63 from the line, with one minute left in clock.
Alas, this was the last point that the Spaniards would score in the match. After Nene made 1/2 from the line, Gasol missed both of his own free throw attempts and then Llull failed to bank his last-second jumper.
Brazil celebrated its first win in the Games and while it’s not the end of the world for Spain, things don’t look particularly well for the European champions.