The Spanish basketball players are unbeaten in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in China. Against the favored Serbs the team succeeded with 80:69 (45:37) the fifth victory in the fifth game. After an early Serbian lead, the Spaniards turned in the second quarter (32:17) and brought the lead concentrated over time. For the title contender from Serbia, it was the first tournament defeat.
Decisive for the success of the team around NBA veteran Pau Gasol and star player Ricky Rubio was above all the concentrated defensive performance: The Spaniards were constantly putting pressure on the Serbian players, who were not yet challenged at this level in the previous tournament games. In the end, the Serbs met only three of their 19 attempted three point dice. Only the individual class of top player Bogdan Bogdanovic (26 points) kept his team in the game. With the Spaniards Rubio was the most successful bowler with 19 points.
For the Olympic and European Championship third, it is in the quarterfinals on Tuesday against Poland, who had previously lost 65:91 against Argentina. The South Americans are known as coming opponents of the Serbs. Also for the further tournament course the Spanish success has consequences: Already in the semifinals the duel of the gold favorites Serbia and USA is possible.
