ISTANBUL (World Championship) - Leandro Barbosa erupted for 16 first-quarter points to give Brazil the platform they needed for victory against Tunisia.
 
The Brazilians, who led 26-16 at the end of the first period, ended up claiming an 80-65 victory in the Abdi Ipekci.
 
Barbosa's scoring burst came with jumpers, but also easy lay-ups and dunks after the South Americans forced a series of turnovers late in the opening frame.
 
Tunisia coach Adel Tlatli never allowed his team's focus to wane, however, and they stayed within striking distance for most of the contest.
 
Trailing 45-32 early in the third quarter, Radhouane Slimane made two free-throws and Mohamed Hadidane followed with a three-ball to cut the deficit to 45-37.
 
After another Barbosa lay-up, Hamdi Braa drilled a three-pointer to make it 47-40.
 
That was as close as they would get though it wasn't until the fourth quarter that Brazil were finally able to breathe more easily.
 
The solid interior play of Joao Paulo Batista, the hyper activity of Alex Garcia on defense and the timely shooting of Marcelinho Machado (who visited with FIBATV.Com after the game) helped the Brazilians pull away.
 
Barbosa finished with 21 points and will now look to make a big difference on Monday when his team takes on the USA.
 
Tunisia will now turn their attention to their next opponents, Iran.

QUOTES
 
Brazil’s Marcelo Machado: We are in a good position but we know we are going to have to start playing better against some very good teams. We have not qualified for the next round yet but we are closer. The aim is always to win at the World Championships that I’ve played in. I still feel like I have something to give. Ruben Magnano has probably made us a better defensive team but also before, Moncho  Monsalve helped us to play more as a team on offense.
 
Tunisia's Hamdi Braa: "To win a game at the World Championship is important. We must beat Iran tomorrow"
 
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ANKARA (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Greece prevailed 83-80 in a hard fought and exciting game at Ankara Arena.

Vasileios Spanoulis won his duel against JJ Barea, scoring half of his personal Greek National Team record 28 points in the final frame, including hitting all eight of his free-throw attempts in the last quarter.

There was little to separate both sides in a game that saw 22 lead changes and nine ties. It came down to Greece getting Puerto Rico over the foul limit and hitting from the charity stripe.

Barea and Carmelo Lee buried early three-pointers to put Puerto Rico – who were without injured star guard Carlos Arroyo – up 11-6 before Konstantinos Tsartsaris and Vasileios Spanoulis replied with long bombs of their own to edge Greece in front 14-13.

The teams went back and forth until Nathan Peavy connected from long range in the dying seconds of the period to put Puerto Rico up 23-21.

Tsartaris converted two three-point plays to put the Greeks up 28-24.

Barea then took over, scoring 12 of his 15 first-half points in the second quarter to give Manolo Cintron’s team a 41-35 lead at the break.

Ricardo Sanchez buried back-to-back three-pointers to put Puerto Rico up 47-38 early in the third quarter.

Greece answered with a 14-4 run, capped off by a Dimitris Diamantidis lay-up to lead 52-51 midway through the period. Ioannis Bourousis hit from beyond the arc to put the Greeks in front 59-56 heading into the final frame.

Barea got his team within 62-60 and then found Angel Vassallo for a wing three-pointer that had Puerto Rico in front 63-62.  Ramos pushed it to 65-62 but Spanoulis then hit from long range and Bourousis had a spectacular putback that made it 67-65 for Greece with six minutes remaining.

Carmelo Lee broke a 70 all deadlock with a wing three. However, Puerto Rico got over the foul limit and Spanoulis was clutch at the free-throw line, giving his side an 81-75 cushion with 32 seconds to go and they held on.

Quotes:

Jonas Kazlauskas (Greece head coach): “I’m happy with this team. We had some problems. One was the atmosphere and the other was facing bigger players. We changed everything in the second half.”

Ioannis Bourousis (Greece centre): “This was a tough game for us because Puerto Rico played very well. We shot well inside and out and they did too. It was a very good game.”

Manolo Cintron (Puerto Rico head coach): “This was a great game. There is no free-throw shooting (team) like Greece. They were great.”

JJ Barea (Puerto Rico guard): “It was a great game to watch until the fourth quarter. Greece are a great team. We couldn’t keep them off the foul line and they made their free-throws.”


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