A win in basketball lifted Spain spirit high.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Team Spain qualified in the Rio Olympic’s men’s basketball quarterfinals.
Spain is back on track on its campaign in the Olympics after the win and managed to escape the posing elimination after their defeat by Argentina in a match where they only score 73 against the victor’s 92.
Because of the win of the two-time Olympic silver medalist and number two seed in the Group B category, host country’s team is denied to advance in the next round.
Spain is set to face Group A number 3 seed Team France in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Before their sunshine, Spain was stormed by an 8-0 mark in the beginning of the games but was able to shine again at 22-11 after being regrouped. From then on, Argentina was not able to make up to Spain’s runaway lead.
Rudy Fernandez game 10 straights in the 22-3 scoring run and finished the game with 23 points.
Team Spain has seven NBA players and is next to Team USA in having most members coming from the premiere league. Under Spain Coach Sergio Scariolo are NBA players, Pau Gasol (San Antonio), Alex Abrines (Oklahoma City), Jose Calderon (Los Angeles Lakers), Guillermo Hernangomez (New York), Nikola Mirotic (Chicago), Sergio Rodriguez (Philadelphia), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota). Victor Claver, Rudy Fernandez and Juan Carlos Navarro have also played in the NBA.
Despite the loss in that game, Argentina is going to advance in the quarterfinals after making a 3-2 win-loss mark. It will face in the knockout stage the powerhouse USA which is unbeaten in Group A.
Meanwhile, Croatia defeated Lithuania in a separate match on Tuesday, 90-81.
Preliminary Round Standings
Group A W-L
1.USA 5-0
2.Australia 4-1
3.France 3-2
4.Serbia 2-3
Venezuela 1-4
China 0-5
Group B W-L
1.Croatia 3-2
2.Spain 3-2
3.Lithuania 3-2
4.Argentina 3-2
Brazil 2-3
Nigeria 1-4
Quarterfinals Sked, August 18
Australia vs Lithuania
Spain vs France
USA vs Argentina
Croatia vs Serbia