Russian EuroBasket hopes rise after beating Greece

Link copied to clipboard

Published: 14 September, 2009, 09:10

Russia's Timofey Mozgov (image from EuroBasket2009.org)

Russia has made a giant step towards the EuroBasket 2009 quarter-finals after beating Greece 68-65 in the Qualifying Round Group E.

Russia stormed their rivals in the first quarter. David Blatt’s lads played almost flawless basketball and led 21-12 after ten minutes.

The Greeks needed another quarter to recover as they managed to catch up with the Russians only in the third, but again let them go after Kelly McCarty’s efforts.

Sergey Monya nailed three three-pointers, scoring 10 of his 16 points of the game in the fourth quarter, assuring the Russia the victory. Blatt’s men took a 9-pint lead, which Greece couldn’t claw back, suffering their first defeat at the tournament.

"I think that we controlled the game and we deserved to win the game tonight. There is really nobody younger and more inexperienced than us. And to beat Croatia and Greece in three days and the way we did is admirable," said David Blatt said to the EuroBasket official website.

After two wins in a row, team Russia has moved to third place in their qualifying group and a victory against Macedonia in the last game will assure them a quarter-final spot.

In other Group E encounters of the night, France kept their unbeaten record after beating Croatia, 87-79.

And Macedonia beat Germany 86-75 to remain in the hunt for quarter-finals.