Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio combined to provide 34 points as Spain picked up their second World Cup title, defeating Argentina 95-75, at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing.
Gasol and Rubio made the All-Star Team and the latter was also voted MVP.
It was also the second World Cup triumph for Gasol and Rudy Fernandez, who both were part of the title-winning team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006.
Their second Asian triumph makes Spain one of a few countries to have won multiple World Cups, alongside Brazil, F.R. Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, United States and Yugoslavia.
For Argentina, their second-place finish in China is their best performance since 2002, when they also ended up runners-up. They won the inaugural edition of the competition in 1950.
In an exciting Third-Place Game, France came from behind in the second half to defeat Australia 67-59 for their second consecutive top three finish at the World Cup, having also finished third in 2014.
Meanwhile, Nigeria finished 17th overall – Africa’s highest position – with victories over Ivory Coast and China in the classification games.
Final Standings of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019:
1. Spain
2. Argentina
3. France
4. Australia
5. Serbia
6. Czech Republic
7. USA
8. Poland
9. Lithuania
10. Italy
11. Greece
12. Russia
13. Brazil
14. Venezuela
15. Puerto Rico
16. Dominican Republic
17. Nigeria
18. Germany
19. New Zealand
20. Tunisia
21. Canada
22. Turkey
23. Iran
24. China
25. Montenegro
26. Korea
27. Angola
28. Jordan
29. Cote d’Ivoire
30. Senegal
31. Japan
32. Philippines
The post Spain clinch FIBA World Cup title, Nigeria finishes 17th overall appeared first onCornerstone News Nigeria.
