GROUP F Review - Brazil thriller; Unbeaten Spain, Russia win again

BRNO (2010 FIBA World Championship)- Brazil kept their hopes of reaching the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA World Championship for Women alive by edging Japan in a 93-91 overtime thriller on Tuesday.

In a win-or-die game for the South Americans on day two of the Eight-Finals, Erika de Souza poured in 32 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Spain blew out the Czech Republic in the final quarter to remain undefeated and Russia also stayed unbeaten with a big victory against Korea.

In Brazil's victory, Iziane's three-ball gave the South Americans a 92-91 lead 12 seconds from the end of overtime and then Erika blocked Yuko Oga's jumper at the other end before drawing a foul with one second remaining.

Erika made one of two from the charity stripe as Brazil clinched their second triumph in Brno.

"Erika is a great player," said Japan's Yuko Oga, who led her team in scoring with 23 points.

"She is one of the best centers there are.

"Perhaps I should have driven towards the basket to draw the foul instead of going for the shot."

Japan thought they had clinched the win in regulation after Asami Yoshida's two free throws put the Asian side in front 78-75 with 13 seconds remaining.

But Silvia Gustavo Rocha's buzzer-beating three-pointer took the game to the extra period.

Rocha had buried Brazil's first three-ball after eight failed attempts with 1:57 to go in the third quarter.

Brazil finished seven of 19 (37%) from behind the arc while Japan were 10 of 24 (42%).

"It was very hard for us to defend Japan, because they have quick players," said Iziane, who scored 10 of her team's 15 points in overtime and finished with 24.
"They did a great job. They hassled us, but we are fighters, we never give up.

"We knew how important this game was for us but more than anything, we knew how vital it was for us to play good and we did.

"We fought until the end and thank God we won."

The game was tied 13 times and there were 21 lead changes.

Carlos Colinas' side showed great fighting spirit, with Erika keeping her team in the game.

Trailing 54-42 with 7:32 to play in the third quarter, Brazil scored eight unanswered points as part of a 19-4 run to take a 61-60 lead with less than a minute to go in the frame.

Erika poured in 11 points in that run.

Brazil must beat the Czech Republic and hope Japan win against Korea tomorrow to reach the last 16 of the competition.

Spain shut down the Czech Republic for more than seven minutes in the final quarter and rolled to a 77-57 triumph.

Amaya Valdemoro had a game-high 25 points and teammate Sancho Lyttle contributed 18 while also pulling down 19 of Spain's 43 rebounds.

Spain went on a 6-2 run over the final two minutes of the third quarter to lead 60-53 and then reeled off 15 unanswered points in the fourth to take command for good.

Eva Viteckova's layup with 2:20 remaining ended the drought for the Czechs.

"We have defended well throughout the game, but especially in the second half," said Spain coach Jose Ignacio Hernandez, whose side claimed their fifth straight win in Brno.
"We have competed against a great team and we hope to do the same tomorrow against Russia and in the rest of the tournament."

Trailing 18-13 late in the first quarter, Amaya Valdemoro scored 10 consecutive points as Spain went on a 17-5 run for a 30-23 advantage midway through the second quarter.
The Czechs cut the deficit to 39-38 two minutes after the break but got no closer.

"I know all the Spanish players having played with and against them in the Spanish league," said Czech forward Jana Vesela, who plays for Ros Casares in Valencia.
"I knew it was going to be a hard game.

"They play great basketball, fast and hard defense.

"I thought we played a good game until the fourth quarter, when we had no energy left."

The Czechs finished two of 15 (13%) from behind the arc.

Russia broke open a close game in the third quarter to beat Korea, 81-48.

Leading 31-28 at the break, Boris Sokolovskiy's side went on a 21-8 run to take a 52-36 lead with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter and never looked back.

Maria Stepanova poured in eight of her team-high 14 points in that run.

"I thought we would take a bigger lead at half-time but the fact is that we were nervous at the start and Korea made their shots," said Russia forward Olga Arteshina.

"We stepped up our defense in the third quarter and that helped us play better offensively.

"Now we have to get ready to face Spain."

Arteshina's three-ball gave Russia a 29-28 half-time lead.

Ha Yeon Beon and Ja-Jung Sin combined for 16 of their team's 28 points at the break.

The Russians were seven of 23 (30%) from two point range heading into the third quarter but finished 23 of 50 (46%).

Korea were outrebounded 55-24, with Irina Osipova pulling down 11 boards for the Russians.

If Brazil upset the Czech Republic and Korea beat Japan, the Brazilians, Czechs and Koreans would each have 3-3 records and a tie-breaker would have to be used to determined the order of finish.

Should Korea and Brazil both lose, the Koreans would advance to the Quarter-Finals by virtue of their victory over Brazil.

Group F games live on FIBATV.com September 29:

Japan vs. Korea - 13.30 GMT - Live on FIBATV.com
Czech Republic vs. Brazil - 16.00 GMT - Live on FIBATV.com
Russia vs. Spain - 18.15 GMT - Live on FIBATV.com

FIBA