RUS/PUR – No Khryapa, no problem for Russia

ANKARA (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Russia overcame the absence of Viktor Khryapa to see off Puerto Rico 75-66 in the second game of Group C action at Ankara Arena.
 
David Blatt’s men led 14-8 at the end of a gritty and low-scoring first quarter. The game picked up in the second period with Puerto Rico getting within three, 18-15, on Angel Vassallo’s long bomb.
 
But Manolo Cintron’s team could not stop Russia’s pick and roll with Timofey Mozgov the beneficiary, getting wide open dunks.
 
Vassello tied the game at 27 before Sergey Bykov and Voronov put Russia up 32-27. JJ Barea then hit two three-pointers as Puerto Rico tied it at 34.
 
Anton Ponkrashov made two foul shots for a 36-34 halftime lead.
 
Puerto Rico scored the first eight points of the second half to pull away 42-36. The Russians fought back and tied the game at 48 on Mozgov’s lay-up.
 
Peter John Ramos scored in the final seconds of the period to put Puerto Rico up 55-54 heading into the final frame.
 
Sasha Kaun, who visited with FIBATV.Com after the win, tied the game at 59 early in the fourth quarter before Barea weaved his way to the basket for a tough lay-up that gave Puerto Rico their last lead, 61-59.
 
Cintron’s charges fouled often the rest of the way and Kaun and Ponkrashov made good on most of their attempts to seal the deal.
 

Quotes
 
David Blatt (Russia head coach): “This was a very good game in a great environment. The first game in a group is always a high-pressure one, physically and psychologically. Both teams played well. Puerto Rico were very active. We found ways to win in the trenches. We have to keep fighting this way. Sergey Monya and Anton Ponkrashov had good performances. We did well without our best player (Viktor Khryapa).”
 
Anton Ponkrashov (Russia guard): “Coach told us there is nothing complicated in winning. You have to rebound the ball, take care of the ball and move it around. We did those things. You can see it in the stat sheet. We won because we played as a real team, united. If we play together, we can win.”
 
Manolo Cintron (Puerto Rico head coach): “We played well defensively but our offense was not good. We fell behind by 12 late on and we couldn’t come back. Russia shot well.”
 
Peter John Ramos (Puerto Rico centre): “We were not good offensively and that’s a problem for a team known for its offence.”

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