Group Info
the USA Team National Development Program.
MADRID - France upset Spain 65-52 in front of its stunned fans in the quarter-finals of the Basketball World Cup on Wednesday. Caleb Joseph Jersey . After dominating its first six games and blowing out France by 24 points in the group phase, Spain appeared to be the main candidate to dethrone the United States in a possible final that would have been a rematch of the past two Olympic gold-medal games. But France defended well and rebounded even better to ruin Spains quest for a title for a second straight summer. Last summer, Tony Parker helped France end Spains quest for a third consecutive European title. This time, Spain had several reasons to believe it would avenge that loss. Parker wasnt playing for France, and Spain had Pau Gasol back in its ranks, besides playing at home. "Its a painful and disappointing defeat," Pau said. "We had such high expectations and had played so well until now." Spain had averaged 88 points per game through its first six wins, all blowouts. But France cut off Spains passing lanes and forced it into solo efforts. Spains guards didnt adjust by looking for Pau and Marc Gasol in the post enough, and then compounded that by missing all but two of their 22 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. "Everyone thought we had won this before it started, but we didnt prepare well for the game and were trying to play catchup the entire way," Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro said. "They prepared better than we did. We relied on doing what we always do, defend and get out on the break, but our shots didnt fall, and they played with a lot of poise." Boris Diaw scored 15 points and Thomas Heurtel added 13 for a France team which pulled in 50 rebounds to Spains 28. Pau had 17 for Spain, but his brother Marc and Serge Ibaka each went 1-of-7 from the field to combine for just five points. Serbia awaits France on Friday after it routed Brazil 84-56 in the other quarter-final. The U.S. plays Lithuania in the other semifinal in Barcelona on Thursday. Pau scored in the post to spark Spains 12-4 run to open the third period and edge ahead 40-39. A brief scuffle marred that span when Frances Florent Pietrus slapped Sergi Llull in the back of the head after an argument. Pietrus was awarded an unsporstmanlike technical foul. Spain entered the final period with a one-point lead but without any clear plan of attack. Diaw nailed a backbreaking three after France again beat Spain to the offensive boards to take a 51-45 lead and force Juan Orenga to call time-out with 6:41 left. A contested jumper by Pau brought Spain to within three points with under two to play, but Heurtel scored five points to quash the comeback and spark chants for Orengas resignation in a loss that hurt almost as much as the Spanish football teams early elimination from this summers World Cup. Pau left open the possibility that this was his last game for Spain, which he has led to one world championship in 2006, two Olympic silver medals, and two European titles. "You never know when your last game or tournament will be," the new Chicago Bull centre said. "I would like to play until I am 50, but I doubt it. We have great young players coming up and Im sure that we have a good team in the future." Whether or not Pau continues, Spain will likely not have such a chance to try and finally beat the U.S. with Pau now 34, and the Olympics two years away. Serbias result also reversed a group matchup, as Serbia lost to Brazil last Wednesday, when Spain also beat France. This time, Brazil and its trio of NBA centers in Varejao, Tiago Splitter and Nene were ineffective, as Serbia bettered the bigger Brazilians inside and out, and turned a five-point halftime advantage into a rout by outscoring Brazil 29-10 in the third period. Serbia was led by guard Milos Teodosic, who scored 23 points, hit three three-pointers, and made four assists. Shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 12 points, and centers Miroslav Raduljica and Nenad Krstic added 10 each. Varejao and Vieira had 12 points each for Brazil. Chance Sisco Jersey . Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job. Zach Britton Jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug.The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenceman Jamie McBain and the 35th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft to the Buffalo Sabres for defenceman Andrej Sekera. The Sabres used the pick to select J.T. Compher from the USA Team National Development Program. McBain was selected by the Hurricanes, 63rd overall, in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first four years of his NHL career in Carolina. In 206 career NHL games, the Edina, Minnesota native has 19 goals and 56 assists. He has one-year and $1.9 million left on his contract wwith a cap hit of $1. Chris Tillman Jersey. 8 million. He will be a restricted free-agent at the conclusion of the 2013/14 season. Sekera played in 37 games during the lockout shortened 2012/13 season and contributed 12 points, including two goals. He was drafted in the third round, 71st overall of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the 2006/07 season. The 27-year-old defenceman has two years left on his deal that will see him earn $1.75 million each year, with a cap hit of $2.75 million. In 339 NHL games, Sekera has 17 goals and 75 assists. Cheap Washington Nationals Gear Cheap Philadelphia Phillies Gear Cheap New York Mets Gear Cheap Miami Marlins Gear Cheap Atlanta Braves Gear Cheap Texas Rangers Gear Cheap Seattle Mariners Gear Cheap Oakland Athletics Gear Cheap Los Angeles Angels Gear Cheap Houston Astros Gear Cheap Minnesota Twins Gear Cheap Kansas City Royals Gear Cheap Detroit Tigers Gear Cheap Cleveland Indians Gear Cheap Chicago White Sox Gear ' ' '
miaowang123
Activity: May 25 '20
