FIBA Basketball
Game Report, Brazil vs Spain 66-67, Group A
IRAPUERA (2006 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Brazil missed two shots from under the basket in the dying seconds as they lost for the first time at this year's FIBA World Championship for Women, going down 67-66 to Spain
IRAPUERA (2006 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Brazil missed two shots from under the basket in the dying seconds as they lost for the first time at this year’s FIBA World Championship for Women, going down 67-66 to Spain.
It was sweet revenge for the Spaniards, who lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the Olympics in Athens two years ago.
Having trailed 24-21 at the end of the first quarter, Brazil fought back in the second stanza and tied the game at 40-40 by half-time.
They then began to take control, and by the end of the third quarter, it was only Spain’s shooting from long-range that was keeping them in the game. Aguilar had hit four of six and Laia Palau two of two from the arc.
Spain were also getting an inspiration performance from Amaya Valdemoro, who had to leave the Argentina game early through injury. She would finish with 11 points and five rebounds, but it was the clutch plays down the stretch which stood out..
Aguilar hit her fifth three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 58-58, and after Kelly da silva Santos made a lay-up, Valdemoro took over.
She scored on a lay-up to tie the game at 60-60, and then scored four of Spain's next six points on jump shots for a 66-60 lead with 4:35 to go.
Neither side would score again until Jacinto spotted Helen on the perimeter and the hero of Game One buried a three-pointer to cut Spain's lead to 66-63 with 1:22 remaining.
Eva Montesdeoca then committed a cardinal sin of basketball by fouling a three-pointer shooter when she made contact with Janeth.
The veteran made Spain pay by making all three shots from the charity stripe to tie the game at 66-66 with 37 seconds left.
Helen fouled Palau with 15 seconds, though, and the guard made one of two to give Spain a 67-66 lead before Brazil called timeout.
When play resumed, Brazil got two shots underneath the basket and missed.
Janeth put the ball up but only hit the backboard, for Zakrzeski to grab the rebound and put up another attempt.
She was off target as well and time expired, and Spain's players poured onto the floor to celebrate the victory.
Aguilar finished with 17 points and four rebounds, while Montesdeoca had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Day 3 boxscores:
Korea vs Argentina: 64-73
Chinese Taipei vs Czech Republic: 72-93
Brazil vs Spain: 66-67
France vs Cuba: 73-78
Lithuania vs Senegal: 74-63
USA vs Russia: 90-80
Canada vs Australia: 65-97
Nigeria vs China: 59-71
PA Sport
It was sweet revenge for the Spaniards, who lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the Olympics in Athens two years ago.
Having trailed 24-21 at the end of the first quarter, Brazil fought back in the second stanza and tied the game at 40-40 by half-time.
They then began to take control, and by the end of the third quarter, it was only Spain’s shooting from long-range that was keeping them in the game. Aguilar had hit four of six and Laia Palau two of two from the arc.
Spain were also getting an inspiration performance from Amaya Valdemoro, who had to leave the Argentina game early through injury. She would finish with 11 points and five rebounds, but it was the clutch plays down the stretch which stood out..
Aguilar hit her fifth three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 58-58, and after Kelly da silva Santos made a lay-up, Valdemoro took over.
She scored on a lay-up to tie the game at 60-60, and then scored four of Spain's next six points on jump shots for a 66-60 lead with 4:35 to go.
Neither side would score again until Jacinto spotted Helen on the perimeter and the hero of Game One buried a three-pointer to cut Spain's lead to 66-63 with 1:22 remaining.
Eva Montesdeoca then committed a cardinal sin of basketball by fouling a three-pointer shooter when she made contact with Janeth.
The veteran made Spain pay by making all three shots from the charity stripe to tie the game at 66-66 with 37 seconds left.
Helen fouled Palau with 15 seconds, though, and the guard made one of two to give Spain a 67-66 lead before Brazil called timeout.
When play resumed, Brazil got two shots underneath the basket and missed.
Janeth put the ball up but only hit the backboard, for Zakrzeski to grab the rebound and put up another attempt.
She was off target as well and time expired, and Spain's players poured onto the floor to celebrate the victory.
Aguilar finished with 17 points and four rebounds, while Montesdeoca had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Day 3 boxscores:
Korea vs Argentina: 64-73
Chinese Taipei vs Czech Republic: 72-93
Brazil vs Spain: 66-67
France vs Cuba: 73-78
Lithuania vs Senegal: 74-63
USA vs Russia: 90-80
Canada vs Australia: 65-97
Nigeria vs China: 59-71
PA Sport