GRE/CRO/ITA/TUR - Greece, Croatia win In Mediterranean Semis; Italy women claim title
PESCARA (Mediterranean Games) –Croatia and Greece scraped narrow wins in the Mediterranean Games Semi-Finals and will now square off for the title. The Croatians knocked off hosts Italy 108-104 after outscoring the Azzurri 31-22 over the final 10 minutes. Damir Rancic erupted for a team-high 29 points for the victors, who out-rebounded Italy ...
PESCARA (Mediterranean Games) –Croatia and Greece scraped narrow wins in the Mediterranean Games Semi-Finals and will now square off for the title.
The Croatians knocked off hosts Italy 108-104 after outscoring the Azzurri 31-22 over the final 10 minutes.
Damir Rancic erupted for a team-high 29 points for the victors, who out-rebounded Italy 39-22.
Ante Tomic, the promising Croatia center who like Rancic will be in the Jasmin Repesa’s preliminary squad for the EuroBasket, weighed in with 16 points and also had a game-high nine boards.
Daniele Cinciarini, who was kept out of the Italians’ Quarter-Final win over Serbia because of a back injury, returned to the lineup and had a game-high 30 points for the Azzurri. Pietro Aradori weighed in with 29 points for the Italians.
Greece played rivals Turkey and prevailed 82-79.
Nikolaos Papanikolaou of Greece led all scorers with 26 points.
In the women’s tournament, Italy softened the blow of failing to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women by winning the Mediterranean title.
Led by Raffaella Masciadri (21pts) and Simona Ballardini (20pts), the Azzurre won 70-54 over Serbia.
FIBA