LILLE, France: Spain won their third European championship after a blistering performance by the talismanic Pau Gasol inspired them to an 80-63 win over Lithuania in Sunday’s final.

The Chicago Bulls center, who carried the Spaniards throughout the competition, poured 25 points and racked up 12 rebounds as the 2009 and 2011 winners enjoyed a fifth successive podium finish.

Having clinched automatic berths in next year’s Olympic Games by reaching the final, both sides produced entertaining basketball in Lille’s soccer stadium, adapted for the knockout rounds of the 24-nation tournament.

Dynamic playmaker Sergio Llull added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists for Spain, while guards Mantas Kalnietis and Renaldas Seibutis led Lithuania with 13 points each.

Earlier on Sunday, hosts France won the bronze medal after beating Serbia 81-68 in the third-place playoff.

France was the defending champion but lost the semifinal to Spain, champion in 2009 and 2011. Serbia won its first seven games at the tournament but lost the final two.

The host team outscored Serbia 21-12 in the third quarter following a 10-0 run and led by as many as 16 points.

Nando de Colo led France with 20 points, while center Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 14 rebounds. Evan Fournier added 15 points, including five straight in the fourth that dispelled any hopes of a Serbian comeback as France took a 12-point lead.

“This is not what we came here for but it’s always good to finish with a win,” de Colo said.

Both Serbia and France clinched spots in qualifying tournaments for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. France coach Vincent Collet said all French stars, including Tony Parker, who had 13 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field, would return.

“We all agreed that that the main goal is to win an Olympic medal, this is the last chance for this generation to win an Olympic medal, but it won’t be easy to qualify,” Collet said.

Serbia’s star guard Milos Teodosic went 0-for-9 from the field and his only points were three free throws. Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 14 points. France pulled down 14 more rebounds.

Serbia’s coach Sasha Djordjevic said his team would be back “with more heart and more desire.”

“We want to go to the Olympics,” said Djordjevic, who guided his team to the World Cup silver medal last year.

NBA great Moses Malone's kindness remembered at funeral

Moses Malone has been remembered not only for his rebounds and three MVP trophies, but for making people smile.

In a service marked by laughter from many of his NBA peers and hundreds of others at Houston's Lakewood Church, the Hall of Famer on Saturday was lauded as a kind and helpful man.

The 60-year-old Malone died a week ago. In 1974 he became the first player to jump from high school to the pros and wound up a 12-time All-Star.

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley delivered the eulogy. He referred to Malone as "Dad" and recalled that when he asked Malone for advice as he struggled in his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Malone told him he was fat and lazy.

Malone is the NBA's career leader in offensive rebounds. He led the 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship. In 1979 and 1982, he was the MVP while with the Houston Rockets.