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September 14, 2011

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Russia to take on Serbia in quarters

SERGEY Monya nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Russia to beat Macedonia 63-61 on Monday and send his team to a quarterfinal showdown with Serbia at the European basketball championship.

"It's a crazy shot," said Monya, who also nailed the last-second winner against Slovenia for Russia to win its first-round group. "I just got the pass and shot it and it went off the glass. It's the second time, I can't believe it."

Monya's basket meant Russia finished top of second-round Group E and avoided hosts Lithuania in the quarterfinals. Macedonia, the surprise team in the quarterfinals that nearly pulled off another upset, will play Lithuania.

Monya scored all of his eight points in the fourth quarter in a game that saw the lead change hands 15 times.

Bo McCalebb, who scored 16 points for Macedonia, made two free throws to give his team a one-point lead with 41 seconds remaining.

Pero Antic, the Macedonia power forward who had 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, then stole the ball but Vojdan Stojanovski missed a 3-point attempt.

With the clock winding down, Russia drew a foul and Aleskey Shved inbound the ball to Monya, who put it in.

Shved led Russia with 14 points.

Assured

Both Russia and Macedonia were already assured of places in the last eight.

Earlier, Slovenia claimed the final quarterfinal spot, beating Finland 67-60 to set up a match against defending champion Spain.

Greece beat Georgia 73-60 in another Group F game. Greece had already qualified and will meet France in the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals start today in Kaunas, and Spain and Slovenia will open the series. Macedonia and Lithuania also play today, while the other two quarterfinals are tomorrow.

The two finalists of the tournament will secure automatic slots at next year's Olympics in London. The next four teams will advance to an additional 12-nation qualifying event. From that competition, three will make it to the 12-nation Olympic tournament.

Finland trailed for most of the game but made it a four-point contest with 32 seconds remaining. It then wasted two possessions before point guard Goran Dragic of the Houston Rockets sank two free throws to put the game away.

"It was a big game and we are very disappointed," said Finland forward Tuukka Kotti.




 

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