Spain roar back to progress to final
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Spain came storming back in the second half to book
their place in the final of the Olympic basketball tournament with a
67-59 victory over Russia.
The world number two and European
champions have rarely looked at their best in this tournament, and
struggled mightily against Russia's imposing defence in the first half.But in a reverse of their meeting in the group stages, when Russia came from 18 points down to win 77-74, Spain came alive after the break to make what was once a 13-point deficit into victory.
Playing in front of a disappointing crowd of 13,215, a Spanish team dominated by members of 'Los Chicos de Oro', the golden generation that emerged when they won the 1999 world junior championship, came through when it mattered to give themselves another shot at a first ever Olympic gold on Sunday.
They will at least match the silver medal they won in Beijing.
Russia had edged a largely ugly first quarter, and Vitaliy Fridzon's three gave them a 12-9 edge with Pau Gasol unable to get a contested lay-up to fall on the buzzer.
The second quarter belonged to Russia, with Sasha Kaun making a point with a big dunk before back-to-back threes from Sergey Monya gave them a 27-14 edge.
Spain could not break down Russia's defence, forced to make contested shots and finishing the first half 31-20 down and shooting just 22% from the field.
Kaun's dunk gave Russia a 40-31 lead but Spain began to claw their way back, cutting it to a four-point deficit on Rudy Fernandez's three-pointer with 4:25 left in the third period.
Another three from Pau Gasol cut it to 44-41 with with 2:48 to go in the third.
Pau Gasol then followed up on Felipe Reyes' miss with a rebound and dunk to make it a one-point game, and although Anton Ponkrashov replied for Russia, it was all tied 46-46 on Jose Calderon's three to end the third quarter.
Ponkrashov's three-point play had Russia back in front, but Spain then reeled off nine straight points to turn the game.
Fernando San Emeterio missed after Pau Gasol's steal, but Sergio Llull was on hand to score with the rebound.
Calderon's three put them on top, and it kept coming with Calderon snatching the ball away and teeing up Llull for a lay-up.
Marc Gasol made a tough shot inside to make it 55-49 before Andrei Kirilenko split a pair of free throws to end Russia's drought.
Calderon nailed yet another three and Reyes hit a jump-shot as Spain stretched their lead to 60-50.
Kirilenko's three cut the gap but Marc Gasol responded by making a contested lay-up, drawing a foul and making it 64-54 from the line.
Kirilenko missed a pair of free throws, passing up the chance to make it a six-point game and Spain eased to victory.
Pau Gasol led Spain with 16 points while Calderon added 14 and Marc Gasol and Fernandez had 11 each.
Kaun had 14 points and Ponkrashov and Kirilenko 10 each for Russia.
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