Russians hold off Spain’s charge for key win

Sydney: Russia held off a late charge by Spain on Tuesday to post a crucial Group 'B' win at the men's Olympic basketball tournament.

With five key players missing for the Sydney Games and an opening match loss to Yugoslavia, the depleted Russian team had to win, and they barely achieved that 71-63 against a pesky Spanish squad.

Guard Sergei Tchikalkine poured in 19 first half points to lead Russia to a 10-point lead at the break. But he went cold in the second period, adding only four to his total.

Spain managed to catch the Russians with seven minutes left to play, but then committed a series of turnovers that allowed their opponents to regain their composure, and the lead for good.

''The feeling was that we lost the initiative and somehow we had to get it back. I told the players during a timeout that we had to play a more aggressive style of defence,'' Russian coach Stanislav Eremine said.

Russia are now 1-1, behind Canada (2-0), who earlier in the day beat Angola. Spain are also 1-1 but their win came against lowly Angola and they still face the toughest part of the tournament draw.

With four of the six teams in each group advancing, Russia are expected to make the quarter-finals, but the real race is to avoid finishing fourth and having to play the United States, heavy favourites to take Group 'A' in the next round.



(c) Reuters Limited.