STOCKHOLM, 9 September 2003 — France, Lithuania, Spain and Greece finished top of their groups at the European championship on Sunday with all four teams ending the preliminary round unbeaten to book their places in the quarterfinals. Spain beat defending champions Serbia & Montenegro 75-67 to finish top of Group C as Jorge Garbajosa and Juan Carlos Navarro settled a heated contest in the final minutes. A defensive rebound by Spain’s Pau Gasol triggered a fight that ended in three players from each team being sent off in the final minute.
Serbia & Montenegro, also the world champions, led after the first three quarters but the Spaniards took the lead in the fourth following a Navarro three-pointer that made the score 59-58. A three-pointer by Garbajosa put Spain 66-62 ahead and they eventually won largely due to Navarro, who scored nine of his 22 points in the last quarter. Gasol contributed 20 points and six rebounds. Serbia & Montenegro still won a place in the elimination round as they finished third in their group behind second-placed Russia, who beat hosts Sweden 92-71 later in the day.
Olympic silver medalists France lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favorites by disposing of Slovenia 88-82 to top Group A. Laurent Foirest and Moustapha Sonko combined for 10 points in the latter stages of the game that gave France a secure 81-74 lead to hold on to and clinch the match. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker also shone with a total of 21 points.
With Slovenia finishing second in the group, Italy secured an elimination round spot by beating Bosnia & Herzegovina 80-72. Both teams were without wins prior to the match. Group D winners Greece made a slow start against Ukraine, who led by 20 points at one stage, and did not take the lead until the beginning of the last quarter. Dimosthenis Ntikoudis scored 21 points for the Greeks, who eventually won 79-73.
Turkey grasped the group’s second place following a 75-72 win over Croatia, who finished third.
