By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Spain defeated Serbia 81 – 69 in the game that concluded the second round in Group J to improve its record to 5-0 and win first place.
This was the first loss for Serbia in the tournament. The “Orlovi” will face Argentina in the quarterfinals will Spain will play against Poland.
With Ricky Rubio setting the tone (19 points, five rebounds, four assists) Spain had a phenomenal reaction in the game after falling behind 11-20 late in the first period. Sergio Scariolo’s players closed halftime up 45 – 37 and continue with the same intensity after the return to the locker.
Serbia lost Nikola Jokic, who was ejected after being called with second technical fouls in the mid of the third period, and then saw its opponents getting ahead 61 – 42 after consecutive points by Marc Gasol. Despite Bogdan Bogdanovic’s efforts (26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) Spain wouldn’t lose control of the match.
Victor Claver dropped 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench for Spain while Gasol finished with 11 points and six assists.
No player scored in double figures for Serbia apart from Bogdanovic. Vladimir Lucic had eight points while Nikola Milutinov and Miroslav Raduljica added seven points apiece.