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FIBA World Cup: Ex-champs Spain, Argentina into 2nd round

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/reuters/09/02/20190902-spain.jpg"/><figcaption>Ricky Rubio and the Spaniards used a pivotal third quarter performance to top Puerto Rico and reach the 2nd round on Monday. Jorge Silva, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>(UPDATE) Marc Gasol scored 19 points, and 2006 winner Spain kept Puerto Rico in check in the third quarter to win 73-63 and march on in the 2019 FIBA World Cup on Monday.Argentina, the inaugural World Cup champion, drubbed Nigeria 94-81 to also reach the second round, winner’s bracket, as did Russia in Group B.Thanks to dominant wins, Serbia and Italy qualified out of Group D, while Poland edged host China 79-76 in overtime in Group A play to advance, too.The top 16 teams will be divided evenly into 4 groups in the second round, with each side assigned to take on the two teams it didn&#x27;t play in the opening round.In Group A, China lost a chance to book a 2nd-round seat outright when the hosts, ahead 72-69 with 7 seconds left, were called for 2 fouls in that span.AJ Slaughter made 2 free throws after Sun Minghui fouled him to make it 72-71, then Mateusz Ponitka split his charities after a Zhao Rui foul to tie the score and force extension. Zhao was forced to stop the clock after a bad pass by Zhou Qi led to a Ponitka steal.In overtime, Damian Kulig&#x27;s basket put the visitors ahead 78-76 with 10 seconds remaining. With a chance to tie or go up, China was called for a 5-second violation that virtually sealed its doom.Former NBA center Yi Jianlian scored 24 points for China, but he didn&#x27;t score in overtime.Ponitka finished with 25 points making 11-of-17 free throws for Poland, which remained unbeaten in 2 starts.In Group B, Luis Scola finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Argentina used a flurry of key 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter. Triples by Scola, Facundo Campazzo and Nicolás Laprovittola turned the tide in Argentina&#x27;s favor after Nigeria engaged the South American side in a close battle.Meanwhile, Vitaly Fridzon and Andrey Vorontsevich each scored 13 points, and Russia went on a 10-0 run to start the second half to beat South Korea 87-73.Argentina and Russia remain undefeated in their group.In Group C, Spain ran off 12 straight points to end the third quarter to down a determined Puerto Rico side.Renaldo Balkman, who has reinforced teams in the PBA and the ASEAN Basketball League, finished with 6 points in a game-high 29 minutes for Puerto Rico.Ricky Rubio tallied 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Spain, which has a 2-0 record.Besides the 59-point win by Serbia over an overmatched Philippines side, Italy also came away with a big win, drubbing Angola 92-61.On Wednesday, China and Venezuela dispute the other 2nd-round berth in Group A when they clash at 8 p.m, while Puerto Rico and Tunisia fight for the same ticket in Group C action at 4:30 p.m. <div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Marc Gasol scored 19 points, and 2006 winner Spain kept Puerto Rico in check in the third quarter to win 73-63 and march on in the World Cup on Monday.

Marc Gasol scored 19 points, and 2006 winner Spain kept Puerto Rico in check in the third quarter to win 73-63 and march on in the World Cup on Monday.