Late Andorra run sees off Armenia; Ireland and San Marino in the Semi-Finals

CIORESCU (FIBA European Championship for Small Countries) - Andorra claimed a dramatic 70-63 win over Armenia, grabbing the headlines at Day 2 of the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries.

The game was tied with three minutes left on the clock, but Guillem Colom Barrufet hit a clutch three-pointer and Albert Farfan De Los Godos added a pair of free-throws to make it a five-point game. Colom Barrufet then hit a two to set the final score.

Colom Barrufet was the game hero for the defending champions. He scored five of his 19 points in the crucial moments, while also grabbing six rebounds and stealing the ball three times. Farfan De Los Godos followed his lead, just like in the first game in Moldova, with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Also in double figures was Oriol Fernandez Vilarrubla with 11 points.

David Eudal Martinez's team are now 2-0, while Armenia fell to 1-1 in Group B. The last three dry minutes cost them the victory, but Andre Spight had another high-scoring performance with 23 points. Bryant Dunston Jr. had 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

In the other game of Group B, host nation used a huge third quarter to overcome Wales. Moldova outscored their opponents 19-5 after the half and before the fourth quarter, which paved the way for a 63-59 win.

Anton Rulevski and Vladimir Colesnicov had 12 points apiece for Volodymir Polyakh's team. Damien Edwards scored a game-high 16 points to go along with his 10 rebounds for Wales.

In Group A, Ireland held Malta in single digits in each of the final three quarters and ran away for a 91-34 victory. Kyle Hosford led five players in double figures with 19 points, player-coach Colin O'Reilly was all over the floor with 11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals, while 19-year-old Jordan Blount needed just 20 minutes to get to 16 points. David Bugeja had 10 points for Malta.

The win secures a spot in the Semi-Finals for Ireland, just like their Thursday rivals San Marino. San Marino only managed 49 points against Gibraltar, yet they still managed to win the game by 17. Defence was the answer for coach Sergio Del Bianco, as San Marino held Gibraltar to 16 points in both halves in the 49-32 win.

Gioele Moretti and Andrea Raschi both scored 14 points for San Marino, who are ready to fight the Irish for first place in Group A. Andrew Yeats finished with 11 points for Gibraltar.

FIBA