http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/SPAIN/6519</p> </p><h2>Gasol leads Spain to victory</h2> Wednesday, August 22, 2007 10:51 AM CASTELLON, Spain (Ticker) - Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol led Spain to a 79-55 demolition of the Czech Republic in the latest warmup for the world champions in preparation for EuroBasket 2007. </p> Gasol had 18 points and his younger brother, 2007 Los Angelas Lakers draft pick Marc, scored 10 and grabbed eight rebounds as the Spanish side remained unbeaten this summer. </p> Jose Manuel Calderon of the Toronto Raptors only took three shots in the game but made them - all three-pointers - to finish with nine points. </p> Spain played without his Raptors' teammate Jorge Garbajosa, who has yet to gain medical clearance from the NBA club for the EuroBasket. He is sidelined with an ankle injury. </p> Rudy Fernandez, the 24th overall pick in June by the Phoenix Suns, who then traded his rights to Portland, scored 17 points. </p> Spain has already qualified for the Olympics, but the team is desperate to win the gold medal at the EuroBasket as it hosts the prestigious event. </p> "We are adding victories, but we are still experiencing good and bad moments. We lacked decisiveness against the Czech Republic," coach Pepu Hernandez said. </p> "When we finally found our focus, we were able to play as we wanted. But we must always begin with balance on defense." </p> Spain will be hoping to put things right before it travels to Seville on September 3 to begin the EuroBasket. </p> "We will not reach our best level until the next few days," Hernandez said. </p> "I believe the competition will make us grow." </p> Pau Gasol and Co. will face their biggest challenge so far this summer when they host Dirk Nowitzki and Germany next Wednesday in Valencia. </p>
http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/SPAIN/6558</p><h2>Navarro lifts Spain to victory over Germany</h2> Wednesday, August 22, 2007 06:16 PM By Cindy Garcia-Bennett Special to PA SportsTicker </p> VALENCIA, Spain (Ticker) - The Memphis Grizzlies' latest acquisition Juan Carlos Navarro scored 18 points to lead Spain to victory over Germany in a EuroBasket 2007 warmup game Wednesday in Valencia. </p> Navarro led all scorers and sparked a decisive 24-6 surge in the final quarter by hitting three of Spain's four consecutive three-pointers. </p> The run covered the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter, which began with Spain leading 52-49. </p> Dirk Nowitzki led the Germans with 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half. </p> Spain was superior shooting the ball, hitting 8-of-22 (36 percent) from beyond the arc and 18-of-33 (55 percent) inside it. </p> By contrast, the Germans were 15-of-39 (38 percent) inside the arc and 8-of-31 (26 percent) from long range. </p>
Its great to see Pau dominating. All i ask from him(and Miller, Navarro and Darko) is that they all stay healthy and dont pull a Pau this season.
