Despite losing two games in a row, heading into the 2012 Summer Olympics quarterfinals, the results of Spain’s Olympic basketball 2012 game against France seemed familiar. Just like in the EuroBasket Tournament, Spain relied on their NBA stars, including the Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka, to beat rival France on August 8, 66-59.
Marc Gasol led Spain with 14 points, while his brother Pau finished with a double-double, adding 10 points and 11 rebounds. Serge Ibaka finished with four points and five rebounds in the game. Juan Navarro finished with 12 points.
France had a pair of 15-point players in Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, but it was not enough to help France advance in the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was a tough break for France, who came into the quarterfinals with a 4-1 record, their only loss to Team USA.
Spain lost two consecutive games in Group B play, falling to Russia and Brazil, and some questioned whether they would even make it to the finals. The team had not lost to a non-U.S. team since 2000 until this year. Now, Spain moves on to the semifinals for a rematch with Russia, who knocked off Lithuania today, 83-74.
Spain won the Silver Medal in Beijing when Team USA beat them 118-107 in the finals.
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