Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the world champion Spain to an 85-63 victory over Serbia in the first of European basketball championship on Sunday. The victory gives Spain its first European title after six runner-ups finished, including a one-point loss two year ago a Russia in front of its home crowd.
The Spaniards dominated from start to finish on both ends of the court, playing pressure man-to-man defense and getting out on the break for easy baskets to jump to a 15-point first-quarter lead.
Serbia never recovered from the early burst by Spain.
Gasol dominated in the paint on both ends of the court, scoring down low and blocking three shots on his way to winning the tournament MVP honors.
Guard Rudy Fernandez chipped in with 13 points for Spain, while Uros Tripkovic led Serbia with 15 points.
Earlier Sunday, Greece slipped past Slovenia 57-56 to win the bronze medal.
In a hard-nosed defensive struggle, Greece used a 14-0 run in the first half to open a 10-point gap and hung on in the closing seconds to win the bronze two years after finishing fourth at the tournament.
“Today the team was very focus,” Greece forward Antonios Fotsis said. “Everybody wanted to play well and at least win the bronze medal. This is a very big success for us.”
Slovenia closed the Greek lead to just one point in the fourth quarter on a free throw from center Erazem Lorbek, but could never pull even despite a handful on chances.
Leading 57-56 with 4.6 seconds to play, Greece guard Vasileios Spanoulis missed two free throws, opening the door one final time for Slovenia. Bostjan Nachbar grabbed the rebound off Spanoulis’ second miss but couldn’t hit a desperation three at the buzzer.
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