ESP - Warm-up wins delight Saez
VITORIA (FIBA World Championship) - Spanish Basketball president Jose Luis Saez is delighted with how the team is coming together for the FIBA World Championship after watching them sweep aside Lithuania and Slovenia in warm-up games in Vitoria this weekend. First Spain beat Lithuania 97-76 behind 17 points from Juan Carlos Navarro, and then saw off ...
VITORIA (FIBA World Championship) - Spanish Basketball president Jose Luis Saez is delighted with how the team is coming together for the FIBA World Championship after watching them sweep aside Lithuania and Slovenia in warm-up games in Vitoria this weekend.
First Spain beat Lithuania 97-76 behind 17 points from Juan Carlos Navarro, and then saw off Slovenia 88-68 as Rudy Fernandez poured in 19 points.
"The team is preparing well and adapting to be at the best for the tournament," he said. "I see a team growing together, in which with each passing day the players and coaches understand a little bit more.
"I've seen a lot of the training and can see the intensity, quality and progression. I am very happy with all that is being done."
Lithuania and Slovenia both got to see that intensity and quality over the weekend.
Spain blew away Lithuania early on, scoring 30 first quarter points to go up by 14.
Although Lithuania responded in the second quarter, they were still down 55-42 at half-time, and the hosts remained in firm control.
Marc Gasol added 14 points while Felipe Reyes had 11 for Spain.
Linas Kleiza led Lithuania with 15 points while Tomas Delininkaitis had 14.
In their second game against Slovenia, Spain led from start to finish and really turned up the heat with 28 points in the second quarter. Gasol had 18 points and Victor Claver 10.
Goran Dragic's 16-point haul led Slovenia, while Jaka Lakovic and Primoz Brezec had nine each.
FIBA