ESP/RUS – Russia minus Khryapa are blown out by Spain

CACERES (Torneo Extremadura) - Spain hammered a Victor Khryapa-less Russia 91-56 in the last game of the Torneo Extremadura – a warm-up event for the Beijing Games.

Khryapa, one of the leading players on Russia’s gold-medal winning side at EuroBasket 2007, isn’t able to play right now because of an ankle injury that is threatening to knock him out of the Olympics.

Giant center Aleksey Savrasenko, who missed the second half of CSKA Moscow’s Euroleague and Superleague-double winning campaign with a shoulder injury, played almost 19 minutes on Sunday against Spain.

Russia got a game-high 18 points from EuroBasket 2007 MVP Andrei Kirilenko in the defeat.

National team boss David Blatt used 15 players as he continued to ponder his final squad selection.

In a rematch of last year’s European title game in Madrid that was won by the Russians, Pau Gasol had 16 points and Felipe Reyes 15 for the Spanish.

Calderon, who signed a lucrative contract extension with the Toronto Raptors this summer and with Pau Gasol joined the Spain team late, played almost 16 minutes.

"We had a good rhythm from the first minute,” Calderon said.

“The result is the least important thing. We have to be good in the Olympic Games.

“We must continue along these lines, but we are on the right track.”

Spain discovered on Sunday they will take on Greece in their first game in Beijing. The two sides met in the semi-finals of last year’s EuroBasket and Spain won.

The Greeks just booked a spot for the Beijing Games on Saturday at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament where they won against Lebanon, Brazil, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

Spain coach Aito Garcia Reneses said: “Greece ravaged the Preolímpico and will reach Beijing in an enviable state.”

“We should have respect for all rivals.”

Spain are in Group B at the Olympics with Team USA, hosts China, Angola, Greece and Germany while Russia are in Group A with Lithuania, Argentina, Croatia, Iran and Australia.

Russia had beaten Portugal 86-64 in their first game at the Extramadura event.

FIBA