Serbia ousts defending world champ Spain
September 8, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Serbia knocked defending champ Spain out of the worldchampionship Wednesday when Milos Teodosic made a long 3-pointer with 3.1seconds left for a 92-89 quarterfinal victory.
Spain erased an eight-point deficit in the final 4 minutes to tie it on MarcGasol’s(notes) basket with 25 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Serbia patiently ranits offense until Teodosic—1 of 7 on 3-pointers at that point—pulled up fromstraightaway, well beyond the arc.
The Spaniards couldn’t get a final shot off, with Jorge Garbajosa(notes) losing theball after a timeout. Serbia’s players celebrated at midcourt as Spain’s SergioLlull(notes) kicked the ball deep into the stands.
Avenging a loss in last year’s European championship game, Serbia advancedto face Turkey or Slovenia in a semifinal game Saturday.
Marko Keselj and Novica Velickovic scored 17 points apiece for Serbia, whileDusko Savanovic added 15. The Serbians were 15 of 30 from 3-point range,exploiting the zone seemingly every time Spain used it.
Juan Carlos Navarro(notes) scored 27 points and Garbajosa, the former TorontoRaptors forward who recovered from a severe leg injury, added 18.
But the Spaniards, considered the co-favorites along with the United Statescoming into the tournament, lost for the third time in Turkey. They were withouttheir best player, Lakers All-Star Pau Gasol(notes), then lost point guard JoseCalderon(notes) of the Raptors shortly before the tournament.
The champions in Japan four years ago now will be forced to qualify for the2012 Olympics at next year’s European championship.
Teodosic, one of the two Serbia players suspended for a brawl in anexhibition game against Greece, finished with 12 points. Center Nenad Krstic(notes) ofthe Oklahoma City Thunder, the other suspended Serb, finished with 13 points andnine rebounds.
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