Ricky Rubio (Front L) of Spain competes with Luigi Datome (Front R) of Italy during the group J match between Spain and Italy at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
WUHAN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Spain edged Italy 67-60 in its Group J opener at the 2019 FIBA basketball World Cup to secure a quarterfinal spot with one game remaining on Friday.
Spain, one of the World Cup title contenders, will next play Serbia on Sunday to decide the group winner.
Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol only pocketed two points for Spain, while Phoenix Suns point guard Ricky Rubio had 15, and Sergio Llull finished with 11 points.
Italy started strongly as they led by as many as 10 points in the first period. Spain, the Group C winner in the first round, responded with a 7-0 run to tie 18-all in the period.
With 6:12 to go before halftime break, veteran Rudy Fernandez helped Spain turn the tables and go ahead 25-24.
Yet, Gasol made zero points from four shots and four free throws, letting Italy go into the second half 31-30.
Juancho Hernangomez fired for seven points, as Spain had the upper hand midway into the third quarter and led into the last 10 minutes by two points.
After both sides took turns for their leads, Rubio and Gasol guided a 10-0 run for Spain to seal the game.
"It was difficult for us to go in offense in the last five minutes of the first quarter, our offenses were stopped during that time," said Italian head coach Meo Sacchetti.
"Maybe our men were a little tired after a long campaign," Sacchetti added as his team failed to make it to the last eight of the ongoing World Cup.
"It was a pretty slow start and guys coming off the bench were in the great job," said Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo.
"It was not the best offensive game probably. But I gave a lot of value on my players being defensive," Scariolo added.
When talking of Serbia in their last Group J match, Rubio said that Serbia was having a great tournament but he focused on the win.
"It tends to be a tough game. Our goal is reaching the next round, now we got it. It's going to be a battle for the first place," the 29-year-old said.
