SERBS ARE EURO QUEENS
Serbia lifted the EuroBasket Women title with a brilliant display in Budapest.
Underdogs but overwhelming, they were crowned European champions for the first time – clinching a spot at Rio 2016 – by defeating France 76-68 in the final in Budapest on Sunday.
Ana Dabovic, the tournament’s MVP, hit game-best 25 points for the Serbs who led 33-32 at half-time before pulling away for good with a 6-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“The girls on the court were just ice cool,” Dabovic said. “We controlled the game. When I feel like that, I don’t feel my team will lose.”
Sandrine Gruda hit a team-best 16 points for France, who matched their runners-up spot of two years earlier.
Spain took bronze by beating Belarus 74-58 behind 25 points from Alba Torrens, while Turkey took the final European berth in the Olympic race by edging out Russia 68-66 in overtime in the playoff for fifth place.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will host EuroBasket Women 2017 following vote of the FIBA Europe Board, beating out Serbia for the tournament.
EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: Sandrine Gruda (France), Alba Torrens (Spain), Sonja Petrovic (Serbia), Ana Dabovic (Serbia), Celine Dumerc (France)
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