France’s Tony Parker (L) vies with Israel’s Yogev Ohayon during the groupe A qualification match against Israel at the Euro Basket 2015 in Montpellier.
Reuters/Paris
Holders France and menacing Serbia have emerged as favourites to reach the men’s European basketball championship final and secure automatic berths for next year’s Olympic Games when the tournament enters the knockout rounds today.
The two teams alongwith Greece finished the group stage, played in four different countries for the first time, with 5-0 records and the competition now moves to the French city of Lille for the remainder of the course.
Especially impressive were the Serbians, who brushed aside all their rivals in Berlin including heavyweights Spain and Italy to set up a last-16 meeting with Finland on Sunday.
Wary of the fact that their good form will mean nothing if they slip up against the battling Finns, Serbia playmaker Milos Teodosic ruled out complacency.
“We must forget what we achieved in Berlin because we are now at stage with no room for error,” he told reporters after Thursday’s 101-82 rout of Italy.
“It’s win or go home so we have to be totally focused and keep up the momentum.”
The French enjoyed home court advantage in Montpellier and strolled through their section but now face a tricky tie against Turkey on Saturday.
Boasting several household NBA names in their roster, France will rely on the inspirational San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, who became the European championship’s all-time leading scorer during the group stage.
The 33-year old livewire, who has won four NBA titles with the Spurs, surpassed former Greece stalwart Nicos Galis as France edged Poland 69-66.
The Greeks clinched the group in Zagreb on the back of a thrilling 72-70 win over hosts Croatia and booked a meeting with Belgium on Saturday.
In Latvia’s capital Riga, Lithuania finished top with a 4-1 record to earn a clash with Georgia.
Former winners Spain, crowned in 2009 and 2011 before taking the bronze medal in 2013, face an uphill battle to continue their podium streak.
Missing three NBA-based players and long-serving Barcelona guard Juan Carlos Navarro, the Spaniards were soundly beaten by Serbia and Italy before scraping through with a last-gasp 77-76 win over Germany.
Spain face an unpredictable Poland with Chicago Bulls centre Pau Gasol carrying the bulk of their hopes of winning a fifth successive medal, as they also finished runners-up in 2007 on home court.
In other last-16 encounters, Croatia face the Czech Republic, Italy play Israel and Slovenia meet Latvia in the opening game on Saturday noon (1000 GMT).
The top two qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro while the next five enter three intercontinental qualifying tournaments next July for an extra three berths.
