KAUNAS (EuroBasket 2011) - Juan Carlos Navarro was named the Most Valuable Player of EuroBasket 2011 and headlined the All-Tournament team which included Tissot Ambassador Tony Parker.
Navarro had 27 points and five assists as Spain defeated France 98-85 in Sunday's Final to successfully defend the title they won in Poland in 2009 and clinch an automatic place into the 12-team field for next year's Olympic Basketball Tournament in London.
Sergio Scariolo's men made history as they became the first repeat champions of Europe since Yugoslavia 20 years ago.
Navarro, nicknamed 'La Bomba', saved some of his best performances for last, scoring 26 or more points in each of Spain's last three games, including a 35-point explosion in the Semi-Final win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia.
The 31-year-old guard was rewarded for his clutch play throughout the tournament as the media picked him as the MVP and he was presented with a special edition Tissot T-Touch Expert watch by FIBA President Yvan Mainini and Lithuanian basketball great Arvydas Sabonis.
Navarro also headlined the All-Tournament team.
He was joined on it by team-mate Pau Gasol, F.Y.R. of Macedonia guard Bo McCalebb, forward Andrei Kirilenko of Russia and France's Parker.
Parker helped France reach their first final of an international basketball tournament since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Getting to the championship game allowed Les Bleus to book their own place in the London Games.
Parker led all players in scoring with 22.1 points per game and ranked fourth in assists (4.4).
Mr Mainini and Mr Sabonis presented all five players with specially engraved PRC 200 watches to celebrate their contribution to the tournament.
FIBA
0 comments:
Post a Comment