Spanish team sends for reinforcements

Press, 3 September 1984, Page 22

Spanish team sends for reinforcements

NZPA special correspondent Singapore The Spanish team, Esiudiantes, has sent for reinforcements from Europe to ensure it finishes ahead of New Zealand this week in the Merlion Cup invitation basketball tournament at Gay World Stadium in Singapore. Concerned at losing Hector Perotas — he returned home over the week-end to

a sick son — Spain does not want to be caught short again when it meets the ' Kiwis on Wednesday night. At the last tournament in Segamat, New Zealand was desperately unlucky to lose in overtime to Spain 80-82. Granted, EstudianteS lost St John’s University graduate, David Russell, and used another American, Craig McCormick, only sparingly in that victory. ——

The Spaniards want to be prepared totally for Wednesday’s match, which both sides believe could determine the second semifinalist from pool B. Replacing Perotas will be the Spanish junior representative, Carlos Montes, a 2.03 m power forward who arrived in Singapore yesterday from the European junior championships in Sweden where Spain finished fourth.

Already back in action, after a knee injury sustained in Segamat, is Russell, who on Saturday gave hint of. his talent with a 24point burst against Malaysia. Spain won easily, 85-72.

New Zealand played its first match of the tournament last night, against Malaysia, and has spent the last two days perched among the 5000 spectators evaluating the opposition. From its pool, New Zealand will find every team beatable — but not easily. Malaysia played solidly against Spain for 25 minutes before a poor offensive patch allowed the Europeans to move away to a match-winning 12-pioint lead with 13min 45s remaining. The Russian club, Georgia, and the top Japanese club side, Matsushita, boosted by five former national representatives, provided the best match of the six so far completed before a full house on Saturday night.

After a slow start,' Russia led by one point at halftime, but a useful 3-2 zone defence combined with excellent outside shooting from veteran Bitchiashvifi helped the Soviets to a convincing 72-58 triumph.

In other games played over the week-end, Korea beat Singapore, 94-76, China dumped South Utah State, 104-76, and followed that up by hammering Singapore, 94-58, and the Australian national league champion, Canberra Cannons, fired by 20 points from the Australian Olympian, Phil Smyth, defeated South Utah, 95-74.

China and Australia, which has three Olympians and two American imports, already look the pick of the 10 sides in Singapore. Both are in pool A, will meet in regulation round-robin action on Wednesday, and also seem destined to meet in Saturday night’s final.