2010 FIBA Worlds: Consoltation Games

Spain 97 - Slovenia 80

        Playing for pride in Friday's consultation game, Spain edged Slovenia, utilizing a dominating fourth quarter to pull away. For the first time in the tournament, Spain's starting frontline of Jorge Garbajosa and Marc Gasol were the weak link, but Felipe Reyes and Fran Vasquez stepped in as reserves to produce against the guard-oriented Slovenians. Gasol and Garbajosa combined for just 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting, but Vasquez and Reyes were able to provide the spark that led Spain on a fourth quarter pull-away victory.

        Slovenia's backcourt duo of Goran Dragic and Jaka Lakovic were firing on all cylinders Friday afternoon, but each made less than half their shots. They each scored 19 points to lead the team, but the starting frontcourt of Bostjan Nachbar, Uros Slokar and Primoz Brezec were 3-for-15 for a total of 9 points.


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Argentina 73 - Russia 61

        Argentina moved on in the consolation round by defeating Russia and will face rival Spain on Sunday. Luis Scola is making a run at Kevin Durant for the FIBA tournament's most outstanding player by scoring 27 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. He was aided by teammate Carlos Delfino's 26 points and 7 boards. Scola has been the tournament's most dominant player, scoring at will from the low blocks and dominating the glass, but can he win it even though he team cannot win the gold?

        After being held in check by the Americans, Russia's stars had a bounce back game, but Argentina was just too strong. Sergei Monya got off to a hot start from the perimeter after making only one shot against the U.S. last game. He made five 3s to finish with a team-high 17 points. Timofey Mozgov recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds and 10 points, but Russia will be heading home this weekend.



By Chris Andrews