The Paris Olympics have been pretty much as good as marketed in ladies’s 5×5 basketball. With all groups in Group A having performed two video games, Serbia and Spain have formally certified for the quarterfinals.
Serbia and Spain seize the primary two Quarter-Finals tickets in Ladies’s #Basketball ️
Which different 6 groups will probably be by their teams? #Paris2024
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 31, 2024
Spain and Serbia are dominating the group, whereas Puerto Rico is eighth total, thanks to some extent differential of -4. Sadly for China, they’re all however carried out except they beat Puerto Rico by 30 factors on Saturday.
Serbia sits on the high
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One purpose Serbia is on the high of Group A is their dominant 81-59 win over China on Wednesday. Serbia managed the whole recreation and accomplished the blowout win in spectacular vogue, outscoring China 19-9 within the closing quarter.
Serbia had a balanced assault, with 4 gamers scoring in double figures led by Yvonne Anderson’s 15 factors. Tina Krajišnik cleaned the glass higher than Windex within the win, knocking down 11 boards. Li Yueru placed on an unbelievable efficiency in China’s loss to Spain, scoring 31 factors. Nevertheless, she wasn’t capable of produce wherever close to that degree towards Serbia, scoring simply eight factors on 2-for-3 taking pictures.
Spain survives (once more)
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Spain has had nothing however nail-biting wins throughout these Olympics. First, they beat China by one level in time beyond regulation, after which they mustered one other one-point victory, this time towards Puerto Rico, 63-62.
There have been nice performances throughout, together with Spain’s Megan Gustafson’s double-double. She ended the sport with 18 factors and 13 rebounds. For Puerto Rico, Arella Guirantes was the largest contributor, scoring a team-high 15 factors. Spain was down by one level with 9 seconds left. Leonor Rodriguez took a 3-point shot and missed, however Laura Gil got here by within the clutch with an offensive rebound. She was fouled with one second left and ended up changing on each of her free throws.
Puerto Rico nonetheless had one final probability to win the sport, however Guirantes missed the ultimate 3-point try, sealing their destiny and permitting Spain to stroll away undefeated.
What to look at on Saturday
It’s the battle of the winless when China and Puerto Rico face one another on Saturday at 5:00 a.m. ET (Peacock). Puerto Rico has appeared spectacular, whereas China has had one aggressive recreation and one disappointing one. China might want to win huge if they need a shot on the quarterfinals; for Puerto Rico, a win would doubtless be sufficient to advance to the subsequent stage.
Serbia versus Spain is the polar reverse of the previous matchup. Each groups enter the competition undefeated, however after this Saturday showdown at 7:30 a.m. ET (Peacock), just one crew will finish the group stage having by no means misplaced. Whereas each groups have discovered methods to be victorious, Serbia has been extra dominant, in order that they’ll doubtless be favored. The important thing for Serbia will probably be slowing down Gustafson, who leads Spain in scoring. If the Spaniards win, it’ll doubtless be as a result of they had been capable of outrebound Serbia and management the tempo of the sport.
Recreation data
China vs. Puerto Rico
When: Saturday, August 3 at 5:00 a.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Tips on how to watch: Peacock, nbcolympics.com
Serbia vs. Spain
When: Saturday, August 3 at 7:30 a.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Tips on how to watch: Peacock, nbcolympics.com
