Spanoulis Beats Croatia At Buzzer

Vasileios Spanoulis sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat Croatia 81-78, earning Greece their first win of the qualifying round to hugely improve their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2007.

The defending champions entered this game having lost their last two against Russia and hosts Spain and in desperate need of a win to stand a chance of making it through to the last eight.

Croatia’s Marko Popovic sank a pair of free-throws to tie the game at 78-78 with seven seconds left in the game but Spanoulis knew he had won the game once the ball left his hands.
"It was in, I was sure that that was it - it was a good shot,” he said of his game-winner afterwards. “It was a very nice game, this is a big win for us.

“We shot well in the second half and we moved the ball well, which is what we needed in order to get back in the game. We did the right things to clinch the win in the end."

As for Popovich, he was only too aware that his team – who led by as many as 13 points at one point in the third quarter - had let a great opportunity slip away.

“We should have won this game. It was in our hands, but we didn't take it all the way,” he admitted.

“We didn't lose it in that last shot by Spanoulis. We lost it when we were up by 13 points and allowed Greece to come back. We played well, and we must keep this against Russia as well and hope to be in the quarter-finals.”

Croatia’s 50-37 lead with just under six minutes left in the third period turned into a four-point deficit, 61-57, early in the final frame as Greece used a 24-7 spurt to regain a lead they lost early in the second quarter.

“You're always upset when you lose a game like this. But I'm also very satisfied that we were able to play with Greece. In the end of the third quarter, we lost our concentration and allowed them back into the game. It's important to stay cool, quiet and concentrated,” said Croatia coach Jasmin Repeta.

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source : eurobasket2007.org