Slovenia Grab Last Olympic Qualiyfing
Spot, Rasho ranks as EC's top blocker - Sep. 17, 2007 Slovenia
drained seven three-pointers during a 24-6 run to start the fourth quarter in
knocking off France 88-74 to clinch seventh place at the 2007 EuroBasket as well
as a berth in next summer's pre-Olympic tournament and
Radoslav
Nesterovic (212-C-76) is the Championship leading blocker, rejecting 1,9
balls per game. Jaka Lakovic hit three long bombs in the big stretch on his way
to 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists and
Radoslav
Nesterovic collected 19 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. SLOVENIA 88 (18+18+15+37): Cebular DNP, Lakovic 26, Dragic,
Nesterovic 19, Smodis 13, Slokar 13, Klobucar 2, Jagodnik 5, D.Lorbek 8, Vidmar
DNP, E.Lorbek. FRANCE 74 (17+23+17+17): Gomis 10, Badiane DNP, Giffa 2,
Sangare, Diawara 7, Parker 31, Fercheaud 5, Pietrus 4, Kirksay 2, Diaw, Turiaf
13, Weis.
Russia is European Championship 2007
!!!! - Sep. 16, 2007 Russia edged in the final of Eurobasket 2007 host Spain 60-59. The hero of the
game was definitely J.R. Holden, who's 2-pointer jump just 2.1 second before the
end of the game save the game for Russians. It was their first European
championship title in the history (as Russia, since Soviet Union team won
previously 14 gold medals at Eurobasket). Pau Gasol still could switch the
victory towards host team, but his buzzer shot went in ...and out. That way
Spain got their 6th silver medal at Eurobasket.
The MVP of the tournament went to Russian
Andrei
Kirilenko (205-F-81), who was the leader of his team thru all competition
games including the final one, where he got 17 points and 5 rebounds.
Coach David Blatt: "Khryapa was the secret of our success. Thank you first of all to my
two great stars - Kirilenko and Khryapa. Both of them they are wonderful people
as well as they are great players. We wanted to stay in the game the whole time.
In the scouting we spoke about that first - stay close and make them feel the
pressure. They felt the heat and we took advantage of it."
"This is an ultimate moment in the history fo the Russian nation. It's the first
championship of the new Russia. I'm very proud to be the person in charge of
this historical journey. I feel very lucky to be part of history both in Russia
and FIBA Europe basketball."
"We did not want to double team Gasol a lot. We did doubling late after two
dribbles just not to allow him to go close to the basket, but we did a great job
against Calderon, and he didn't play as good as he did in the last game against
us. We played a lot of match up zone and didn't allow Gasol to get the ball
close to the rim. We wanted to put him on the line and it worked. Holden stopped
in the last three days - Tony Parker, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Jose Calderon and
people should acknowledge that."
Coach Pepu
Hernandez: "This team is a very important team. This group of team
doesn't only play good basketball but they also set an example. For me they are
without doubt the best team in the history of Spain."
"Of course nobody will settle for a silver medal, but that's not going to
console the team. The coaching staff did a great job. We continue to believe we
can compete with anyone. Perhaps a few days from now we can see things
differently, and see we have a great future ahead of us."
"The team has to follow a certain direction, and we have established that. I
don't think we deserve to take steps back. We still want to improve, even day to
day, no matter if a player is old or young. There were critical moments and all
the time I tried to keep the team with their feet on the ground, and be prepared
for the competition. Of course I'm gong to think about all the mistakes, and
having mistakes is natural."
Post game quotes are courtesy of FIBA
French NT : a sad day for French
Basketball... - Sep. 16, 2007 ...and maybe sadder ones to come.
The 2007 Eurobasket is over, ended by a huge disappointment for the French NT;
which finished at the 8th place, the only place of top 8 giving nothing, except
regrets.
After a correct first round (successes over Poland and Italia), Tony Parker &
co arrived in Madrid with a supposed top -motivation to show the european world
of basketball their skills and potential. It started pretty good, with this
success over Germany for the first Madrid game. But then, Lithuania was too
strong. On the basketball side? Yes maybe a little bit,since Lithuania finished
third. But where France suffered the comparison with others was the mental
aspect. This team showed his incapacity to keep a leading gap and drive the game
their way instead of having to deal with the opponent one. After this official
friendly game vs Turkey (not very convincing, but won 85-64), all hopes were put
on the quarter final game vs Russia. There again, no mental skills, and a lot of
missed free-throws during last quarter to give (not let, give) the game to a
team of Russia that could have been dominated by the French NT.
Was the tournament completely a fiasco? Not at that time. The French players,
supposed to be motivated by the Olympic quest, were expected to give their best
in the 2 last games vs Croatia and Slovenia. The only thing asked to that team
was a last effort, a single win meaning a ticket for the Olympic qualifying
tournament. But none of that happened, France got crushed by Croatia 86-69, and
her so-called strong defense couldn't prevent the Slovenian players from scoring
37 points in the last quarter to win the game and the last place for the
olympics qualifying.
Seeing the Lithuanian's happiness after the 3rd-place game won vs Greece, the
conclusion is that we rarely noticed with the French players this motivation,
this attachment to their home land and jersey other nations keep having since
the young NT game series. France will not be in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic
games and could miss the 2009 Eurobasket, if the 2009 qualifying campaign is not
a success.
A(nother) bad time is starting for basketball in France, a country
dominated in the media by soccer, rugby. There is the third place left for any
sports with good international results, which basketball cannot bring so far.
Now, the 2007/2008 season is about to start. Even if all basketball fans are
behind Roanne and Le Mans for the beginning Euroleague campain, we all know that
doing our best won't be enough.
Lithuania finishes Eurobasket on the third place. Congratulations, the Baltic
team will bring bronze medals home. In the game against the defending Champions
Lithuania overcame 78:69.
Ksystof
Lavrinovic (210-C-79) led the way with 19 points.
Linas
Kleiza (203-F-85, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Missouri)
and
Ramunas Siskauskas (197-G-78) added 13 points respectively.
Nikos
Zisis (195-G-83) had a great game in the losing effort nailing 23 points.
Of course it is a great success to finish in the first three of the tournament,
however probably not for the Baltic state. Spain or Russia that will stay on
podium will have also 1 loss. Moreover the second team of the tournament for
sure will finish with 2 losses and Lithuania has only one. Well, that's the game
and you need to win the most important games.
Even though the difference is 9 points, Lithuania won all the quarters. The most
productive was the second when the team benefited with 21:15 victory. With 17
seconds to go Jasikevicius nailed a three to be sure in a win. Lithuania
deserves the third place and wins 78:69. Greece, being the ex-champion finished
this time on the fourth place.
Germany with a power Nowitzki finish in
5th place - Sep. 16, 2007 The battle
for the 5th place had a better start for Croatia thru their fast game against
Germany more sleepy in wich might be the last game for Okulaja in German
national team jersey (9-2 8:00m) ,wich in the best they could do in the first
quarter was two ties in the period that ended with 2 points for Popovic with
Croatia lead 25-16.
The second quarter started like the previous quarter ,Croatia draining 3 point
shots thru Popovic, distancing themselfs ( 31-20 -7:40m),Germany cuted the lead
but right after 2 minuts of good basket by Germany they fall off again ,this
time Banic showed what he can do and what Germany can´t do against them
,Nowitzki as always was the only good player in Germany battling against Croatia
team work game ,he got 8 straight points to reduce 42-34 with 1:16m,Mario Kasun
quickly got 4 fouls in the game,being sidelined ,final result at the half a
Croatia lead 44-36 a lead that didn´t showed exactly the difference virified
between teams in the first half ,but Nowitzki with 18 points was the reason they
wasnt losing for more points.
The first 5 minuts of 3rd quarter both teams was playing at a diference of 7
points between them but with a 3 point shot Jagla got Germany at just 1 point
diference 57-56(2:10m) and Demirel in the free-throw line gave Germany a lead at
the end of the quarter 58-57 .
Okulaja started the last period with a jump shot giving Germany their biggest
lead they had in the game till that moment(9:06m with 62-57)but it wans´t
enaught for them showing again that Croatia have many problems fnishing the
games but not starting them (72-63 with 5:18m Germany lead),till the end of the
game Germany just controled the game with the final result of 80-71.
Germany finished in 5th place and Croatia in 6th,outstanding players of the
game:
Germany-Dirk Nowitzki 31 points,12 rebounds,4 assists ; Jagla 11 points ,4
rebounds and Greene 10 points.
Croatia-Banic 16 points,Popovic 14 points and Davor Kus with 10.
Slovenia secures place in pre olimpics
tournament with win over France - Sep. 16, 2007 The game for
decide wich team will be in Pre-Olimpics tournament( the 7th place) had a better
start for Slovenia making a partial of 10-2,France just scored again with 5.15m
by a jump shot by Turiaf reducing Slovenia lead but after some missed shots by
Slovenia and a technical foul for their coach ,in wich shows this game was a
decive game for both team and a nervaus game with many players fouled out ,Tony
Parker in the first quarter showed why he one of the best players in the world
scoring the first 11 points of France 18 points.
Before the game of the first quarter France arrived i the lead (18-17).
In the second quarter Slovenis had a better start making a 24-29 lead but France
didnt let them get away in the game,with the game at the end of the second
quarter having a result of a France lead 40-36 in a very disputed game .
In the second half
Third quarter Tony Parker with his penetrations and 3 point shots,keeped France
in the lead 57-51.
Yaka Lakovic in the last quarter with a 3point shot made the tie and Slokar with
6 points made Slovenia in the lead - a partial of 11-0 cutted by a layup by Tony
Parker again and always but Slovia started to scoring lots of 3 point shots( in
total they had 10-25 from 3 point line) that ´´shaked´´ France players heads
with offensive errors and turnouvers (75-62 with 3:10m remaining), and their
biggest lead of the game 86-69 in the last seconds of game( the lead got bigger
because some technical and many fouls by France players),final result 88-74.
The best players was:
Tony Parker with 31points and 4 asists,Turiaf scored 13 poiints, grabed 8
rebounds,for Slovenia Lakovic had 26 points ,6 rebounds ,7 assists in a all
around game for him,Nesterovic with 19 points.
Slovenia is in pre olimpics tournament and finishes in 7th place, this was a
really bad tournament for France that ends in 8th place.
Spain beat Greece again and reaches the
Final - Sep. 15, 2007 Spain-Greece 82:77 (24-18, 17-21, 18-21, 23-17)
Spain reached the Final of Eurobasket 2007 and upset the defending Champions in
Serbia. The hosts of the tournament overcame the ambitious Greece and now can
watch another semifinal game, Lithuania-Russia.
Pau Gasol
(214-F/C-80) and
Juan
Carlos Navarro (192-G-80) led the winners with 23 points.
Jose
Manuel Calderon (190-G-81) supported them with 18, nailing some important
three pointers.
Vasilis
Spanoulis (193-G-82, agency:
Beo
Basket) was the best for the Greek squad having 24 points.
Spain started the game fresher and were supported by the spectators. That gave
the team to finish the first quarter at 24:18. Meanwhile Greece won the second
and trailed by 39:41 at the half. Moreover Greece left the third quarter being
in front by 1.
In the end of the game after Greece had 67:65
Jose
Manuel Calderon nailed a three to give Spain lead back.
Juan
Carlos Navarro with a lay-up brought 70:67. For a minute the teams played a
tough defense and did not allow the score to change. Greece thought only of a
three pointers in order to tie the game. With 1.44 remaining
Jose
Manuel Calderon made 74:68 and it was a great relief for the hosts.
Vasilis
Spanoulis reduced to 74:70 scoring his 23rd points in the game. After 76:70,
Panagotis Vasilopoulos (202-F-84, agency:
FCM)
nailed a three to trail by 3. Jimenez made 2 free throws with 24 seconds
remaining to give Spain 78:73. The game is probably over, but not for the Greek
team. Zisis with a three made 78:76 and the teams had to play 18 more seconds,
however at first Greece fouled and then lost the ball.
Spain led the game to the happy end and reached the FINAL.
Slovenia ... Black Out No 2 - Sep. 15,
2007 Germany made
a 18-5 run in last five minutes as defeated Slovenia 69-65 in the 5th-8th
classification round of EuroBasket 2007. Slovenia will play against France on
Sunday for seventh place and last Olympic Qualifying Spot. Jaka Lakovic
collected 17 points and 6 assists, Matjaz Smodis scored 16 points and Radoslav
Nesterovic had 13 points and 9 rebounds. SLOVENIA 65 (16+15+23+11): Cebular DNP, Lakovic 17, Dragic 3,
Nesterovic 13, Smodis 16, Slokar, Klobucar DNP, Jagodnik 5, D.Lorbek 8, Vidmar
DNP, E.Lorbek 3. GERMANY 69 (18+14+14+23): Demirel 2, Okulaja 7, Arigbabu,
Garrett DNP, Herber, Hammann 6, Greene 16, Roller, Gruenheid DNP, Femerling 4,
Nowitzki 28, Jagla 6.
Greece rallies from 16-point deficit to
beat Slovenia - Sep. 15, 2007 Greece
overcame a 12-point deficit in the final 2:30 to knock off Slovenia 63-62 and
live on for another chance to defend their EuroBasket title. Slovenia made a
18-2 run spanning halftime and had their largest lead at 58-42. But Theo
Papaloukas 11 of his 17 points posted in last quuarter including a game winning
lay-up with 6,7 seconds remaining.
Radoslav
Nesterovic (212-C-76) had 16 points, 11 reboudns and 5 assists, Jaka Lakovic
added 14 points and Matjaz Smodis 10.
SLOVENIA 62 (17+17+17+11): Cebular DNP, Lakovic 14, Dragic 7, Nesterovic 16,
Smodis 10, Slokar 4, Klobucar DNP, Jagodnik 2, D.Lorbek 2, Vidmar DNP, E.Lorbek
7.
GREECE 63 (14+14+12+23): Papaloukas 17, Bourousis 2, Zisis 7, Spanoulis 6,
Vasilopoulos 2, Pelekanos, Chatzivrettas 2, Ntikoudis 4, Tsartsaris 6,
Diamantidis 5, Papadopoulos 10, Kakiouzis 2.
Greece shocks Slovenia 63-62 in
Eurobasket quarterfinals !!! - Sep. 14, 2007 An
epic win for the Hellenic NT
An amazing 21-4 in the last 6.30' minutes gave to the Panagiotis Yiannakis the
ticket to the top four teams in Europe.
The most highly paid European player,
Theodoros Papaloukas (200-G-77) proved once more why the Russians worship
him !! The amazing Hellene guard with 7 points, 1 steal and 1 assist in less
than 1.30 minutes was the MVP of the game and at the same time
the player who took the team in his back, like a modern Atlas, and travel to the
end!! The God is Greek!! Everybody now (and especially the Slovenians and Ales
Pipan) believes so.
In regards to the game now, the Hellenic team had to face and overcome two
negative elements from the very beginning, their bad shooting performance (with
1/12 three pointers in the first 35 minutes) and the hostile presentation of the
referees. The men in gray were 100% aggressive towards the Hellenic NT.
The Slovenian team was much better team in the court for 35 minutes, the first
quarter finished with 17-14 with Lakovic and Smodis in offence and Nesterovic in
defense being dominant. The same backdrop took place in the second quarter where
things were exactly the same, with the score being 17-14 and 34-28 by the end of
the first half. From the Hellenic team Lazaros Papadopoulos was the top scorer
with 10 points, while Dragic and Lakovic was leading the Slovenian NT with 9-0
made the score 34-28. The third quarter was a monologue for the Slovenians in
offence and defense, the rebounds was the Achilles heel, for the Hellenic NT,
they couldn't get any rebound. The end of the third quarter found the Hellenes
to score only 12 points and the Slovenians to be dominant in all the edges of
the court. The same scenery took place in the first 4 minutes of the last and
most crucial quarter where the Greeks had a deficit of 16 points with 1\12
three's no psychology at all and the Slovenians cheering in the bench being 100%
for their success but…… They forgot that nothing is finished until the fad lady
sing, the Hellenic spirit and the duet of Diamantidis and Papaloukas spoke once
more. The top duet (in Guards) decided to take over and with the two three
pointers from Tsartsaris and Zisis made an unbelievable 21-4 and qualified once
more in the semi-finals of the Eurochampionships. Tomorrow against the
Spaniards, the Greeks will try to make another Basketbll miracle, in less than
24 hours we will be able to know whether Greece will be able to repeat their
performance in Serbia of 2005..
Planinic sends ...Lithuania to the
semis - Sep. 14, 2007 What a game! Thanks to Croatia that did not give up in the game against the
favorite of Eurobasket 2007. Lithuania grabs the ticket to the semifinal thanks
to Zoran Planinic (198-G-82) who missed 2 free throws with a second remaining.
Tha Baltic team won 74:72 and will meet Russia in the semifinal.
Darius
Songaila (205-C/F-78, agency:
Priority Sports, college:
Wake Forest)
(205-C/F-78, agency: Priority Sports, college: Wake Forest) led the winners with
20 points. Linas Kleiza (203-F-85, agency: Interperformances, college: Missouri)
ended up with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Rimantas Kaukenas (193-G-77,
college: Seton Hall) netted 8. Zoran Planinic top-scored for Croatia with 16
points.
Croatia surprised everyone when they started very ambitious. The team won the
opening quarter 19:17 and looked also good in the second. After three quarters
Croatia was still in front having 2 points advantage.
With 27 seconds remaining in the game Lithuania led 74:70. Zoran Planinic made
two free throws and reduced the score till 74:72. It was him who stepped into
the line again with 1 second remaining. Unfortunately he missed the first one
and did the same, however by purpose in the second try. Lithuania deserved the
win a bit more and now looking forward to the next game.
Lithuania - Croatia 74:72 (17-19, 21-16, 15-20, 21-17)
Lithuania:
Darius
Songaila 20, Linas Kleiza 19+9 rebs, Rimantas Kaukenas 8
Croatia: Zoran Planinic 16, Marko Popovic (185-G-82) (185-G-82) (185-G-82) 12,
Tomas 10
Germany without a chance versus
Spain - Sep. 14, 2007 Spain set a
stop to the German medal-dreams in the Quarter Final at the European
Championships and advanced to the Semis by outclassing Germany 83:55.
It was the same procedure as in preparation, when these two teams met twice with
Spain winning on both occasions. Once again it became clear that only two or
three German players have the class too compete at the highest European level
constantly and that some have already reached their climax in the past, now
being on the way down. The problem keeps returning: If Dirk Nowitzki faces
strong defensive pressure there is hardly anybody to step aside supporting the
German topscorer. In contrast the Spanish hosts showed a great allround-play and
dominated the game completely. At halftime the score was 40:27 and Spain
continued to humiliate the Germans in the third quarter (26:16).
Though dropping out of the medal-race Germany still have the chance to earn a
spot at the Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Olympics by claiming the seventh
place in the Placement Round.
Spain: Calderon (17pts), Fernandez (12pts), Navarro (12pts), M.
Gasol (10pts), Garbajosa (7pts), P. Gasol (7pts), Reyes (6pts), Cabezas (3pts),
Jimenez (3pts), B. Rodriguez (3pts), Mumbru (2pts), S. Rodriguez (1pt).
Calderon leads the hosts to the
semifinal - Sep. 14, 2007 Spain-Germany 83:55 (18-14, 22-13, 26-16, 17-12)
Spain goes to the semis after a wonderful victory over Germany. A great game in
all the quarters brought the hosts of Eurobasket 2007 a 83:55 win.
Jose
Manuel Calderon (190-G-81) paced the winners with 17 points.
Juan
Carlos Navarro (192-G-80) netted 12, while
Rudy
Fernandez (197-G-85) collected 12. As usual it was
Dirk
Nowitzki (211-F-78) who paced his German squad. His 11 points were however
nothing in comparison with what he used to score.
Germany stayed in front of the game for the first five minutes. After 9:10,
Spain took a control and managed to win the opening quarter as well.
Juan
Carlos Navarro and
Jose
Manuel Calderon scored nine of Spain's final 14 points in the half as they
went on a 9-0 run. A 40:27 garanteed a good advantage at the break.
In the third quarter Spain increased the lead and after
Rudy
Fernandez's dunk the board showed 56:36. The teams went to the last break
with 66:43 for the hosts of the tournament. At that time probably nobody
believed that Germany would catch up as they could not struggle anymore. A 17:12
in the last quarter sent Spain to the semis.
Spain will meet the winner of Slovenia-Greece in the semifinal game.
Russia makes it to the semis - Sep. 13,
2007 After a vewry exciting game, Russia managed to defeat France 75-71 in the
quarterfinals and made it to the semis, where they will face the winner of game
between Lithuania and Croatia. It will be their first time in 10 years to reach
that level of Eurobasket.
French team was ahead the most of the game. Russian players tried to stay close,
never allowing for the French to get too big lead. The deciding part of the game
was last quarter, where Russian outscored France 22-15. The strongest weapon of
winning team were 3-point shoots, which allowed them to catch up with French
players. Just 24 seconds before the end of the game, it was styill a tie 69-69.
Then Holden successfully got 2 shots from the line getting 2-points lead. Then a
very nervous time with missing shots from both France (Diaw) and Russia
(Pashutin). Parker made only one free-throw, missing the second one, and
Pashutin got another 2 points for Russians (73-70). Parker got faulked and after
getting 1-pointer, he intentionally missed the second one. But it did not work
as Russians get the rebound. France had nothing to lose and they had to foul.
Sergey Monya closed the game with two free throws and the game ended with 75-71
for Russia.
Lithuania tip Slovenia 80-61 in clash
uf unbeaten teams - Sep. 13, 2007 Ramunas
Siskauskas led four players in double figures with 21 points as Lithuania won a
duel of unbeaten teams 80-61 over Slovenia. Lithuania shot 8-of-11 from the
downtown at half and made a 14-4 run. Slovenia cut the deficit to just on point
but through the third quarter Lithuania went on an 11-2 run to open their first
double-digit cushion.
Jaka
Lakovic (186-G-78) posted 15 points and Matjaz Smodis added 11. The
Slovenians will next face defending champions Greece in Friday's quarter-finals. SLOVENIA 61 (18+23+8+12): Cebular DNP, Lakovic 15, Dragic 7,
Nesterovic 4, Smodis 11, Slokar 6, Klobucar, Jagodnik 3, D.Lorbek 6, Vidmar,
E.Lorbek 9. LITHUANIA 80 (26+18+19+17): Kaukenas 11, Gustas, Maciulis,
D.Lavrinovic 6, Siskauskas 21, Songaila 17, Jasaitis 3, Kleiza 6, K.Lavrinovic
14, Jasikevicius 2, Jankunas, Javtokas.
Italy defeated, farewell Beijing - Sep.
12, 2007 Team Italy
felt to Germany 58-67 and wasn' t able to advance to the Eurobasket 2007
quarterfinals, despite having "the strongest team ever", according with some
observers. After a good start, in which they played a decent offense and a good
zone defense, ending the 1st quarter 18-12, the Azzurri started to play badly,
and kept the same disappointing pace from the second quarter, ended 27-27, till
the end of the game. Germany outrebounded Italy 52-31, and shot better from the
field and from the charity line. No comment.
Dirk
Nowitzki (211-F-78) showed another time more to be a true champion, leading
his team with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Johannes
Herber (197-G-83, college:
W.Virginia)
added 15 points and
Steffen
Hamann (194-G-81) 10.
Marco
Belinelli (196-G-86) was the game top scorer at 15 points, but no one can
deny that Italy deserved to lose.
German National Team takes on Spain in
Quarter Final after defeating Italy - Sep. 12, 2007 The
German National Team topped Italy in the final game of the Qualifying Round at
the EURO 2007 in Spain and advanced to the Quarter Finals. The team managed to
come back after Mondays terrible loss to Slovenia. The final score against Italy
was 67:58.
Germanys team effort was the key to success this time. Three players scored in
double digits with
Johannes
Herber (197-G-83, college:
W.Virginia)
showing one of his personal best performances ever on the National Team. The
Germans dominated the glasses and did outrebound the Italians by a 51:31 margin.
Dirk
Nowitzki (211-F-78) and
Jan-Hendrik Jagla (213-F-81, agency:
Priority Sports, college:
Penn St.)
collected 10 boards apiece. By half time the score was tied at 27, but the
Germans used the third quarter for a scoring spurt (19:10), when Herber drobbed
10 points. Though Italys rising star
Marco
Belinelli (196-G-86) kept his side in business in fourth quarter the Germans
always had the right answer, assuring the ticket for the next round.
In the upcoming Quarter Final on Thursday Germany will face the host team and
current World Champion Spain.
Italy: Belinelli (25pts), Bargnani (10pts, 6rbs), Bulleri
(8pts, 5pts), Marconato (6pts, 6rbs), Gigli (3pts, 6rbs), Mordente (3pts),
Mancinelli (2pts), Di Bella (1pt), Basile, Soragna, Crosariol (DNP), Da Tome
(DNP).
The end of portuguese dream - Sep. 11,
2007 With Nick
Gales the historical PG of Greece(2 times better player in Europe),Portugal
still could keep his dreams alive if they won for more then 13 points.
Portugal had a bad start in the game as thru Diamantidis with 5 points got a
partial of 7-2 Filipe da Silva with a 3point shot(the 3 point shots in first
quarted was fantastic for Portugal 5-11) did the 7-5,portuguese players couldn´t
handle the big Greece players (Papadopoulos)and Joao Gomes with 2 fouls and
Pelekenos with 3 fouls showed the game was agreesive,Greece also had bad free
throwns percentages a factor that Portugal profited in the first quarter with
some lead changes ,the result of the first quest was a lead for Portugal 17-16.
The second quarter everything started to fall apart for Portugal,Greece
presionated the point guards of Portugal ,and the great percentages of shots
from anywhere(expect the free-throws) for Greece make them a lead of 45-34 at
the half,Joao Gomes had another highlight of the game as he did another alley
hoop,many of the diference contributed the fouls of Elvis Evora that had to be
replaced int hat period ,one more time they showed their starting linaup is the
strong on the team ,without many solutions in the bench.
Second hald was pretty much a relaxed and controled game for Greece,Portugal got
3 players with four fouls(Joao Gomes ,Elvis Evora,and Joao Santos),in the start
of 3rd quarter the differences was around 10 points but then Greece did his job
again-end of period ( 64-47).
The last period was the goodbye of Portugal in a fantastic tournamet ,they
suprised everyone(Latvia president federation traveled 1 day before Portugal
game to Madrid because he was thinking easily Latvia would won against
Portugal)and did the best European ever ,so for that CONGRATULATIONS PORTUGAL .
Slovenia blows out Germany - Sep. 11,
2007 After an
embarrising performance in the second game of the Qualifying Round at the EURO
and a devastating 47:77-loss against Slovenia the German National Team players
have put a lot of pressure on their shoulders prior to the final fixture against
Italy on Wednesday. Defeating the "Squadra Azzurra" is a must to get the ticket
to the Quarterfinals.
In the game against the unbeaten Slovenians Germany never had a chance and gave
up far too early. Trailing 9:30 after ten minutes and 22:45 by halftime the
German Coach Dirk Bauermann let his substitutes play for most of the fourth
quarter. Already a couple of minutes after tipp-off it became evident that
nothing seemed to work out for the Germans that night. Bad shots and plenty of
wrong decisions in offense plus missing commitment in defense were the reasons
why Slovenia captured an easy win.
Joao Gomes and coletive of Portugal
destroyed Israel - Sep. 9, 2007 Joao
Gomes(23points and 11 rebounds) in a fantastic exibition showed everyone why he
the best portuguese player of actuallity ,he did dunks ,FT,everything in a MVP
performance to show eevryone Portugal have good players and a great team ,last 4
games against Israel ,Portugal won them all ,with this win Portugal for be in
quarter finals needs to win for more then 13 points against Greece or just win
that game and wait a Croatia win over Russia.
With lots of turnover and a sleepy Israel team with a great offensive moves and
great shots percentages ,Portugal won this match eaily and the 9 points at the
end arent enaught to show everyone how good Portugal played.
A partial of 5-0 to Portugal started the game with a great dunk by Joao
Gomes,with 8.05m Israel scored their first points by Halperin(8-5),another
partial putted Portugal with 17-5 with 5.15m ,all this at 3point shots ,great
defense and lack of defense for Israel team ,the only player in a great plan for
Israel was Elyiahu with 27 points ,many steals and fast breaks keeped Portugal
in a plus,ano
