Turks take the pizzazz out of Spain with 65-57 win
Spanish team slips on court in fourth-quarter action
Spain fell flat in the fourth quarter of Monday's final group play match at Eurobasket 2011. In a surprise comeback, the Turkish team defeated the Spaniards 65-57, giving a poor performing Turkey a chance to advance to the second round.
It was the defending champions' first defeat at the courts in Panevezys, Lithuania, and a bitter pill to swallow following Spain's 91-79 thrashing of the host country's national team on Sunday.
After maintaining an unsecured but comfortable lead throughout the match, the Spaniards discovered a reinvigorated Turkey team during the final quarter. A big part of Spain's weakness was the absence of Pau Gasol, who sat on the side court nursing a swollen ankle. Doctors had advised him not to play.
The strong offense by Turkey appeared to have made a few Spanish players nervous, including Sergio Llull and Juan Carlos Navarro who missed his opportunity for a three-point throw with two minutes remaining. "These are things that just happen," Navarro said after the game. Spain was only able to secure two points during the final quarter while Ömer Asik, with a free throw at less than five minutes remaining, leveled the score at 57-57.
Ricky Rubio was called in to replace José Calderón while Marc Gasol took over from Felipe Reyes toward the end of the final quarter but it was all over for Spain. A triple by Ömer Onan, with an assist from Hedo Türkoglu, put the Turks ahead- a lead that Spain would not overhaul.
