Spain close group play with easy win
Spain can now look forward to the 2010 FIBA World Championships knockout stage after wrapping up their elimination round campaign with an easy victory over Canada on Thursday.
The defending champions led from start to finish as they clobbered the winless Canadians, 89-67, in their final Group D game in Izmir. The Spaniards, who finished with a 3-2 record, jumped to a 12-2 start. Canada came to within seven points with 3:06 remaining but the Spaniards quickly restored their double-digit lead. The Europeans closed out the period with a 28-17 cushion. Rudy Fernandez, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, scored six points in the period while talented point guard Ricky Rubio had four assists.
The Canadians played better in the second period to keep the game close. Led by 19-year-old forward Kelly Olynyk, the Canadians unleashed a 15-6 run to trim Spain's lead to 34-32 with 4:26 remaining. But Jorge Garbajosa responded with a trey to increase Spain's lead to 37-32. Another trey from Fernandez gave the Spaniards a 40-33 cushion. Spain enjoyed a 42-37 lead at the break. Fernandez led all scorers with 11 points. Jermaine Anderson had eight points for the Canadians while Olynyk scored six.
Canada remained within striking distance of the Spaniards throughout the third until the Europeans pulled away in the closing stages of the quarter. Spain used a decisive 15-4 run to build a 59-44 lead with 2:16 left in the period. Fernandez led the Spaniards' surge with eight points. Spain closed out the quarter with a commanding 63-48 lead.
Canada showed little resistance in the fourth as Spain further stretched their advantage. A basket from Fran Vazquez gave the Spaniards an 80-55 cushion with 3:28 left in the game. The Spaniards cruised the rest of the way to notch their second-straight win following their 91-57 demolition of Lebanon on Wednesday.
Fernandez and Vazquez led the Spaniards with 19 points each. Garbajosa finished with nine points while Rubio had eight points, eight assists and six rebounds. Reserve Alex Mumbru also made his presence felt, finishing with eight points and grabbing five rebounds. Olynyk, who plays for Gonzaga University, was the top performer for Canada with 14 points and four rebounds. Jevohn Shepherd added 12 points while Anderson and young centre Robert Sacre had eight each.
Spain, under Italian head coach Sergio Scariolo, will march on to the Round-of-16 knockout stage while the Leo Rautins-mentored Canadians have been eliminated.
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