STOCKHOLM, 8 September 2003 — World champions Serbia and Montenegro survived a hard-fought battle against hosts Sweden, winning 78-68 on Saturday and notching their first victory of the 2003 European Championships in the defense of the continental title.
Milos Vuljanic hit three three-pointers to spark a 13-2 run starting in the fourth period as the defending champions Serbia and Montenegro, who won the 2001 title as Yugoslavia, pulled away from the Swedes, who trailed just 53-49 after three quarters.
Predrag Stojakovic paced the eight-time champions with 23 points, while Predrag Drobnjak added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Point guard Marko Jaric also had 13 points and chipped in with 10 rebounds.
The Serbians bounced back to even their record at 1-1 in Group C after losing to Russia Friday night. The Swedes, inspired by the home crowd in Sodertalje, really gave the Serbians a scare as Fredrik Jonzen collected 18 points and 11 rebounds while Joakim Blom had 12 and seven.
While Serbia and Montenegro struggled, the other tournament top contenders - Spain, Germany, France and Greece - all clinched at least a spot in the elimination round as they collected their second straight victories. All group winners automatically reach Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Spain top Group C after Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol scored 31 of his 35 points in the first half as the Iberians well-handled Russia in an 89-77 victory.
Juan-Carlos Navarro added 20 points as Spain never trailed. Russia saw Utah Jazz star Andrei Kirilenko struggle with 26 points, just eight of those in the first three quarters. Germany are also undefeated but needed a second hard-fought match to get by Latvia 94-86 in Group B in Norrkoping.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points and Mehmet Demirel added 18 including the final nine points for Germany, who on Friday struggled against Israel.
Group B leaders on point-differential are 2000 Olympic silver medallists Lithuania, who cruised by Israel 94-62 thanks to 16 points by Saulius Stombergas for their second straight victory. France also clinched their second straight win with a 85-52 decision against 1997 winners Italy, who have lost both their games in Group A.
Tariq Abdul Wahad paced the five French in double figures with 16 points.
Also with two wins in Group A are Slovenia, who beat fellow former Yugoslav nation Bosnia & Herzegovina 73-62 as Marko Tusek scored 16 points.
The 1987 winners Greece, who like Serbia and Montenegro have already qualified for next year’s Olympics, held off Turkey 75-70 in a tight battle throughout to stay perfect atop Group D.
Also in Group D, Gordan Giricek scored 21 points and Dalibor Bagaric added 12 points and 11 rebounds as Croatia beat Ukraine 93-71 in Boras to even their record at 1-1.
Clipper Star Wang Zhizhi
Refuses to Return to China
Los Angeles Clipper Wang Zhizhi has decided not to jeopardize his multimillion dollar NBA contract and will not return to China’s national team to play in this month’s Asian Basketball Championships, state press said yesterday. Wang, China’s first-ever player in the world’s most prestigious basketball league has cited his relationship with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as the main reason that he cannot return to China, the Titan Sports Weekly reported.
The seven-foot (2.12-meter) power forward was formerly a member of the military’s Bayi Rockets and as an enlisted member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) he does not travel with an ordinary passport, the paper said.
According to the paper, the PLA refused to approve Wang’s demobilization so that he could obtain a civilian passport and continue his NBA career.
The refusal came despite efforts by the China Basketball Association to bring Wang back to the national team, which will vie for Asia’s only spot at the 2004 Athens Olympics during the Sept 23-Oct 3 Asian Basketball Championships in Harbin, China.
Wang’s present passport is out of date, the paper said, and the United States immigration authorities apparently will not issue him another visa since it would duplicate his current status as a US green-card holder or permanent US resident.
