Scola takes Argentina to the World Cup final | Basketball

Argentina achieved his pass to the World Cup final of China after defeating by 80-66 to France, which – despite isolated flashes – was overcome by the incessant thrust of the South Americans and, in particular, the incombustible Scola.

The match was characterized more by the good defense than the attack and both teams ended up with scores below average during the tournament.

Except Scola, who even expanded his records with 28 points and 13 rebounds The veteran Argentine basketball player was the soul of the team once again.

The match, which began with the intensity that Argentina prints for each match, saw a minute pass before the score was opened. Did Ntikilina With a distant basket.

Scola scored two track-to-track entries in two consecutive attacks and added another two points in another penetration. At that time (minute 4) he had 6 of the 10 points of the albiceleste, while 'les bleus' remained anchored in the initial basket (10-2).

A triple of Labeyrie woke up to a France that could not score and Nando de Colo He left the bench to approach distances (16-10, minute 7) and unclog the French attack.

At the end of the first quarter, France was totally in the game again: 21-18.

In the second quarter the French kept pace and with two and a half minutes consumed they got ahead for the first time thanks to a mate from Lessort after assisting De Colo (23-24).

It didn't last long: Marcos Delía He fought under the hoop to score a basket with an additional shot that, however, decided to get out from inside. Not so to the shot of Laprovittola in the next attack. The Argentines took off again, when Deck scored after one of the counterattacks that have characterized the team during the championship.

In the 17th minute Deck gave the scare and limped off the bench. Scola entered.

At that point of the encounter Fournier He was already 'plugged in' (9 points, minute 18), but Argentina continued at an unassuming pace: Campazzo scored a triple on the horn that indicated the end of the period (39-32).

None of the teams loosened in the restart: Vildoza scored three free throws after a foul at 6.75 meters and Albicy replied with a triple.

Everything that had failed from three until the break (25% of Argentine success, by 15% French) became successful. A triple of Vildoza, another from Batum and another from Scola followed each other in a tripler exchange that roared the pavilion.

The Argentine steamroller began to pass over to France. In the 25th minute, the score was 52-38 and the albiceleste players could be seen enjoying playing, enjoying shooting.

The shy attempts of the French to close the gap came across an almost impenetrable defensive wall, with a job by the five Argentines on the track that made the score extremely complicated. The third quarter closed with 60-48.

M'baye broke the psychological barrier of 10 points of difference with a triple (60-51). Laprovittola put it back where it was the same way in the next attack. Ntikilina added two more from afar and Gobert pounded to leave the difference at eight.

A basket of Scola after spectacular assistance from Larpovittola led the 10-point lead back to the scoreboard, a difference that never ended up disappearing to French despair.

Scola did nothing but widen the gap. Two triples followed three minutes from the end (he scored 3 of the 4 he threw) earned him the ovation of the stand, which broke out again at the conclusion of the match: 80-66.

Thus, Argentina will fight with Spain for gold in the final Sunday, in the Wukesong Pavilion in Beijing at 20.00 local time (12.00 GMT time).

– Data sheet:

80 – Argentina (21 + 18 + 21 + 20): Campazzo (12), Brussino (2), Garino (0), Delía (6), Scola (28) -initial quintet-, Gallizzi (2), Laprovittola (7 ), Deck (13), Vildoza (10), Fjellerup (0) and Caffaro (0).

66 – France (18 + 14 + 16 + 18): Ntikilina (16), Fournier (16), Batum (3), M 'Baye (4), Gobert (3) – initial quintet-, Albicy (3), De Colo (11), Lessort (2), Poirier (0), Toupane (0) and Lacombe (0), Labeyrie (8).

Referees: Steven Anderson (USA), Ademir Zurapovic (BIH) and Jorge Vázquez (PUR)

Incidents: Second semifinal of the World Cup in China, played at the Wukesong Sports Center in Beijing before about 10,000 spectators. Without eliminated. EFE