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Yugoslavia - Croatia 80-66
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Antalya, TURKEY, August 31 - Yugoslavia beat Croatia with 80-66 in the game of the C Group first round of the European basketball championship in Antalya, Turkey.
Yugoslavia justified the role of favorite, in a just second official match against
Croatia. Predrag Stojakovic of the Scramento Kings, scored 21 points to lead Yugoslavia to a comfortable win. Yugoslavia's captain Dejan Bodiroga had an important role, in spite the nasal dislocation and arcade injury he got during the last training in Belgrade. Jaric played very mature, and rational, Tomasevic was the "miner", picking all the "garbage" balls. Gurovic hit three of three 3-pointers. Tarlac, Obradovic and Scepanovic were excellent in defense. Simply, Yugoslavia didn't have a weak spot tonight.
Predrag Stojakovic
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Only significant attempt of Croatia came at the start of third quarter (11-0 series), Mulaomerovic awoke, and joined Kovacic, but great defense opened fast breaks and everything was over couple of minutes before the end.
The 16 nations in the tournament are divided into four groups. The four teams that finish first proceed to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-place teams go to
an elimination round to join the last eight.
Yugoslavia will play Estonia Saturday.
*****
European Men's Basketball Championships, Group C, Day 1, Antalya, TURKEY, August 31
YUGOSLAVIA - CROATIA 80-66 (26-20, 17-15, 20-18, 19-11)
FREE THROWS: Yugoslavia 62% (13/21), Croatia 77% (10/13).
2P FGs: Yugoslavia 47% (26/55), Croatia 54% (22/41).
3P FGs: Yugoslavia 25% (5/20), Croatia 24% (4/17).
REBOUNDS: Yugoslavia 36 (24+12), Croatia 30 (24+6).
PERSONAL FOULS: Yugoslavia 18, Croatia 12.
YUGOSLAVIA: Bodiroga 9, Petrovic, Obradovic 6,
Rakocevic, Stojakovic 21 (2/2 FTs, 8/14 2P FGs,1/5 3P FGs), Scepanovic 8, Jaric 9 (4 assists, 3 steals), Drobnjak 2 (2 blocks), Tarlac 3 (9 rebounds), Milojevic, Tomasevic 13 (8 rebounds) and Gurovic 9 (3/3 3P FGs).
CROATIA: Mulaomerovic 12 (5 assists), Vrankovic, Sesar 2, Mrsic, Prkacin 6, Krstic, Giricek 17, Kovacic 19 (8 rebounds), Skelin 4, Mamic, Vujcic 2 and Tabak 4.
*****
Group C, Day 1: Germany - Estonia 92-71
Group C - current standings
G W L Pts
1. Germany 1 1 0 2
2. Yugoslavia 1 1 0 2
3. Croatia 1 0 1 1
4. Estonia 1 0 1 1
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