Mr.Bottomtooth
08-26-2006, 10:02 AM
Lithuania upsets Italy in worlds
By Associated Press
August 26, 2006
SAITAMA, Japan — Arvydas Macijauskas scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Lithuania survived four missed free throws in the final seconds for a 71-68 victory over Italy on Saturday in the second round of the FIBA world championships.
Italy was even worse from the line than Lithuania (3-3), missing five foul shots in the last 2.1 seconds, three by Gianluca Basile with 0.6 seconds left and his team down three points.
Lithuania will play the winner of the Spain-Serbia and Montenegro game in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Macijauskas scored eight straight points, the first six on 3-pointers, in a 12-4 run that gave Lithuania a 66-56 lead with 4:01 to play.
Marco Mordente’s four-point play then started Italy (4-2) on an 11-3 run that had the silver medalists from Athens within 69-67 with 1:05 left.
Then came the missed free throws from both teams.
Marco Belinelli made one of two from the line with 7.8 seconds left to get Italy within 69-68.
Italy fouled immediately on the inbounds and Linas Kleiza, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, missed two free throws. But Darius Songaila, who signed with the Washington Wizards this summer, grabbed the rebound of the second and was fouled with 4.9 seconds to go.
He missed both, but 6-foot-11 Darius Lavrinovic tipped in the miss of the second to give Lithuania a 71-68 lead with 2.8 seconds to go.
Belinelli was fouled near midcourt with 2.1 seconds left. He missed the first free throw, then missed the second intentionally. The rebound bounced around until it was grabbed by Basile, who unbelievably was fouled by Macijauskas as he threw up a desperation 3-point attempt with less than a second to play.
He missed all three attempts, and the buzzer finally sounded to give Lithuania the victory.
Lavrinovic and Songaila each had 12 points for Lithuania, which finished 19-for-30 from the line (63 percent).
Mason Rocca, who played at Princeton from 1996-2000, and Fabio di Bella each had 15 points for Italy, which was 6-for-19 (32 percent) from the line overall.
Italy finished 4-1 in pool play, its only loss to the United States in a game it led by 12 points in the second half before falling 94-85.
The free throw debacle took away from a strong defensive effort by both teams in a game far different from Italy’s 100-91 victory over Lithuania in the opening round at Athens two years ago.
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25/08/2006
PUR - Toro steps down as Puerto Rico coach
SAPPORO (FIBA World Championship) - Julio Toro has left his post as coach of Puerto Rico following their elimination at the FIBA World Championship.
The news was confirmed after the 73-72 defeat by Italy in their final Group D game, bringing an end to almost three decades with the national squad.
Toro, who has been part of the set-up since becoming assistant coach in 1978, said: "In more than 160 matches with this team, I want to be remembered as somebody who did his best.
"I've taken good and bad decisions. It happens. We can win or lose, but I've always been there."
Despite their disappointing results, Toro, who had said before the tournament he would step down, believes the national team will remain in good hands.
"Puerto Rico's future is promising, because in this team there are veteran players who are young. A lot of them are less than 30 and are vastly-experienced too," he continued.
"I think this team will remain in the place they have always been, trying to challenge the opportunities they will have.
"For us, the biggest goals are the World Championships and the Olympic Games."
PA Sport
By Associated Press
August 26, 2006
SAITAMA, Japan — Arvydas Macijauskas scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Lithuania survived four missed free throws in the final seconds for a 71-68 victory over Italy on Saturday in the second round of the FIBA world championships.
Italy was even worse from the line than Lithuania (3-3), missing five foul shots in the last 2.1 seconds, three by Gianluca Basile with 0.6 seconds left and his team down three points.
Lithuania will play the winner of the Spain-Serbia and Montenegro game in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Macijauskas scored eight straight points, the first six on 3-pointers, in a 12-4 run that gave Lithuania a 66-56 lead with 4:01 to play.
Marco Mordente’s four-point play then started Italy (4-2) on an 11-3 run that had the silver medalists from Athens within 69-67 with 1:05 left.
Then came the missed free throws from both teams.
Marco Belinelli made one of two from the line with 7.8 seconds left to get Italy within 69-68.
Italy fouled immediately on the inbounds and Linas Kleiza, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, missed two free throws. But Darius Songaila, who signed with the Washington Wizards this summer, grabbed the rebound of the second and was fouled with 4.9 seconds to go.
He missed both, but 6-foot-11 Darius Lavrinovic tipped in the miss of the second to give Lithuania a 71-68 lead with 2.8 seconds to go.
Belinelli was fouled near midcourt with 2.1 seconds left. He missed the first free throw, then missed the second intentionally. The rebound bounced around until it was grabbed by Basile, who unbelievably was fouled by Macijauskas as he threw up a desperation 3-point attempt with less than a second to play.
He missed all three attempts, and the buzzer finally sounded to give Lithuania the victory.
Lavrinovic and Songaila each had 12 points for Lithuania, which finished 19-for-30 from the line (63 percent).
Mason Rocca, who played at Princeton from 1996-2000, and Fabio di Bella each had 15 points for Italy, which was 6-for-19 (32 percent) from the line overall.
Italy finished 4-1 in pool play, its only loss to the United States in a game it led by 12 points in the second half before falling 94-85.
The free throw debacle took away from a strong defensive effort by both teams in a game far different from Italy’s 100-91 victory over Lithuania in the opening round at Athens two years ago.
---------------------------------------
25/08/2006
PUR - Toro steps down as Puerto Rico coach
SAPPORO (FIBA World Championship) - Julio Toro has left his post as coach of Puerto Rico following their elimination at the FIBA World Championship.
The news was confirmed after the 73-72 defeat by Italy in their final Group D game, bringing an end to almost three decades with the national squad.
Toro, who has been part of the set-up since becoming assistant coach in 1978, said: "In more than 160 matches with this team, I want to be remembered as somebody who did his best.
"I've taken good and bad decisions. It happens. We can win or lose, but I've always been there."
Despite their disappointing results, Toro, who had said before the tournament he would step down, believes the national team will remain in good hands.
"Puerto Rico's future is promising, because in this team there are veteran players who are young. A lot of them are less than 30 and are vastly-experienced too," he continued.
"I think this team will remain in the place they have always been, trying to challenge the opportunities they will have.
"For us, the biggest goals are the World Championships and the Olympic Games."
PA Sport