AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - After a tense opening, Spain has comfortably defeated a Kazakhstan team missing two starters, 101-71, in their final Group F game at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.

Spain now must sit and wait for the result of the Canada v Argentina game to know if they have progressed to the quarter finals, which will be played on Friday.

Jorge Santana was the star of the day, nailing 6/6 from the perimeter on his way to 26 points, while Toni Vicens continued his strong tournament with 11 points. Samuel Dominguez enjoyed some court time with 10 points, as his team recorded their third win for the tournament.

While Alexandr Tyutyunik, Pavel Illin , Rustem Tuleu (all 12 points) and Alexandr Zhigulin (13 points, 8 rebounds) all enjoyed productive offensive moments for Kazakhstan, the Asian runners up were never at home against the Spanish pressure defence, and could not keep up with the Europeans in the open court.

They sorely missed centre Artyom Skornyakov, who was injured in the first game of the tournament, and shooter Anton Arsenyev, the hero of their win over New Zealand.

Kazakhstan were within 4 points with 3:29 to play in the first quarter, but a 12-5 run to end the quarter opened up a Spanish lead that the Kazaks would never bridge. Spain led by 20 at half time, 27 at three quarter time and 30 at the final whistle.

Kazakhstan have just one win in the FIBA U19 World Championship, and will now play off for positions 9-12 on Friday and Saturday.


Ivan Martinez, Spain :

“We had to work our points in the first quarter because they came out strong, we got everybody involved and we got everyone going and we had a neat game.

We have had ups an downs, with Argentina and Croatia. We have played some real good basketball but we have also made some mistakes.

Here at the FIBA World Championship anyone can beat anyone, but all players are young players with a lot of talent.”

FIBA