ESP/SLO – Navarro leads Spain past Slovenia

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Spain used a near perfect fourth quarter to see off Slovenia 97-80 and book their place in the 5th place game at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
 
They will take on Russia or Argentina in Sunday’s last classification game.
 
Entering the final frame up 64-62, Sergio Scariolo’s side hit five of seven three-pointers as they outscored their opponents 33-18.
 
Juan Carlos Navarro – who came off the bench in the second half – had 10 points and handed out five assists in the last 10 minutes as Spain built a good head of steam.
 
Navarro finished with game-highs of 26 points – 23 of them after the break – and seven assists.
 
He got the hot hand upon checking in midway through the third quarter and that proved to be the turning point of the game.
 
Slovenia led 56-51 before the Spanish guard took over, accounting for 11 of his team’s last 13 points in the period as they opened the fourth quarter with a two-point edge.
 
Navarro turned provider in the last frame, finding Fran Vazquez for an easy two inside and then spotting a wide open Sergio Llull, whose wing three-pointer made it 76-69.
 
Llull connected again from beyond the arc for 81-73 and Navarro hit a long bomb from the top of the key for the game’s first double-digit lead 84-73. He then fed Vazquez for a thunderous dunk that put the game out of reach at 88-75.
 
Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez, who visited with FIBATV.com after the game, put the finishing touches to the game.
 
Slovenia looked to have the game in hand as they led for the better part of the first three quarters.
 
Jaka Lakovic made his first three attempts from beyond the arc and Goran Dragic had eight points in the first period as Mehmet Becirovic’s men led 23-16.
 
Spain got within one on Felipe Reyes’ acrobatic tip-in off a missed Navarro lay-up early in the second quarter.
 
Sani Becirovic then made another big shot and Samo Udrih provided four quick points off the bench to cap a 6-0 run that put the Slovenians up 29-22.
 
Lakovic connected from way beyond the arc to beat the shot clock as Slovenia went up 41-32.
 
Alex Mumbru then nailed a jumper in the lane and hit a pair from the charity stripe before Marc Gasol made a lay-up in the dying seconds as Spain finished the first half with a 6-0 run, cutting the deficit to 41-38.
 
The third quarter was a free-throw shooting procession for Slovenia as they went to the line 20 times and made 16 of their attempts.
 
Spain got their first lead, 45-44 on a Fernandez lay-up but he soon headed to the bench after picking up his fourth foul as Sergio Scariolo’s side were in the penalty with 6:31 to go in the period.
 
Spain were called for 12 fouls Slovenia for seven in the third quarter alone and.
 
The Slovenians led 58-51 but Navarro went on his impressive scoring run and the Spaniards took the momentum for good.

For complete highlights of the game as well as interviews with Rudy Fernandez visit FIBATV.com.
 
FIBA