2013 EuroBasket: Spain thrash Serbia to enter semifinal

Jose Calderon (L) of Spain vies with Nemanja Bjelica of Serbia during a FIBA European basketball championship

Defending champions Spain thrashed Serbia 90 – 60 to enter semifinal of the 38th edition of the FIBA Europe Championship for Men, better known as 2013 EuroBasket. The championship is ongoing at Slovenia.

In the first quarterfinal of the championship, Spain took huge lead in the first quarter by taking the opening quarter 21 – 5. Spain also took the second quarter 27 – 18 to go to the halftime break with comfortable 25-points lead. After the break, Spain came out strong and continued their attacking and took the third quarter 25 – 16. Serbia tried to come back in the match by taking the last quarter 21 – 17 but it was too late for the Serbians to stop the defending champions entering the semifinal of the championship. Sergio Rodriguez netted game-high 22 points for Spain while Rasko Katic and Danilo Andjusic netted 11 points each for Serbia.

Hosts Slovenia will play France in another quarterfinal of the day while Croatia will play Ukraine and Lithuania will face Italy in remaining quarterfinals on September 19, 2013.

The top six teams from 2013 EuroBasket – excluding Spain, as they have already qualified as hosts, will get their ticket to the 2014 FIBA World Cup. As Spain is already qualified as hosts for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Serbia has still chance to get ticket to the world cup. 24 European nations are participating at the ongoing event.