Eurobasket 2009 qualifying: Bulgaria, Finland spring surprises
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Before the other three EuroBasket 2009 qualifying round groups get started next week, the one that has been in action since mid-August had a couple more suprises on Saturday. First, Bulgaria raised its record to 3-0 and gave Italy more difficulties with a hard-fought 81-80 home victory in Sofia. Then, heretofore winless Finland stormed into the victory column by downing mighty Serbia 80-77 at home in Vantaa. That left Bulgaria, coached by Pini Gershon, holding first place exclusively after sweating out three would-be go-ahead shot attempts by Italy in the final minute of their game. Filip Videnov's free throws with 1:13 to play put Bulgaria ahead and proved good enough to win. It had been a close game throughout, with neither team ahead by more than 3 points at the close of any quarter, although Bulgaria led by as many as 11 in the middle of the third. Videnov paced the winners with 21 points, hitting 5 of 6 shots from three-point distance. Dejan Ivanov of Zadar added 17 points and Todor Stoykov of Lukoil Academic 12. Massimo Bulleri of Armani Jeans Milano had 18 points for Italy, which lost despite 16-for-35 three-point shooting. Meanwhile, further north, Finland shocked prevously undefeated Serbia with a 6-2 game-ending run in the final 1:23. Petteri Koponen shot Finland in front, 77-75, from long distance, and Jukka Matinen finished off Serbia with 3 free throws. Koponen led Finland with 18 points, while Matinen, Kimmo Muurinen and Hanno Mottola added 12 each. The Fins buried 14 of 26 three-pointers, doubling Serbia's production from that range.
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Euroleague.net
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