Today marks the first lost by Spain against a strong Lithuania, 57-65. After being up most of the game, Turkey came back to surprise Spain during the last game in the first round of the Eurobasket Championship. During the first 35 minutes Spain controlled the tempo a play, however during the stretch in the 4th period, foul trouble and without top player Pau Gasol it did not help the matter. Marc Gasol and Ibaka picked up the slack from Gasol however, it was not enough and Navarro did not shoot well from the field.
Turkey out-rebounded Spain 37-33.
Spain however finished first in Group A
Box Score
Spain 57 (19-19-17-2)
Rudy (11), Ricky (0), Navarro (9), Calderón (5), Reyes (11), San Emeterio (0), Llull (0), Marc Gasol (12), Ibaka (9) y Sada (0).
Turkey 65 (10-25-14-16)
Guler (0), Preldzic (18), Onan (5), Ilyasova (6), Tunceri (0), Asik (12), Arslan (10), Kanter (2) y Turkoglu (12).
With the marks of top Spanish National teams and figures such as Rafael Nadal who just won the Wimbledon after a 44 year drought for Spanish Players and the Spanish Soccer team who also won the Euro2008 after not winning in the 40s. The national teams for Spain both women and men are hoping to follow in those footsteps in Pekin during the Olympic Summer Basketball Games!