FIBA U17 - Diop carries Spain into semis past China

KAUNAS (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship) – Ilimane Diop collected 26 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks as Spain moved into the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship Semi-Finals with a 64-57 victory over China.

Spain – playing without suspended leader Agusti Sans – held China scoreless for 5:24 in 9-0 fourth quarter run to take control of the game. Alberto Martin added 14 points for Spain while Jose Nogues had 6 points and 12 rebounds.

Zhou Qi collected 20 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks while Zhao Ji Wei had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals, but it was not enough for the Chinese.

Zhao and Han De Long helped China pull ahead 14-11 after one quarter and the Asian powers pushed the lead to nine points in the second quarter, 29-20. But Spain came back to pull within 31-26 at the break.

A Zhao three-pointer pushed the Chinese advantage to 11 points, 37-26, before back-to-back baskets by Diop started a 12-0 Spain run for their first lead – 40-37. And the Iberians were up 43-41 after three quarters.

China scored the first five points of the fourth period and led by four, 49-45. Martin twice hit three-pointers to put Spain back ahead – the second time for good with 5 minutes to play.

Spain did a good job defensively in the fourth, holding China without a point for more than five minutes to decide the game.

FIBA