Though each still has one game remaining in the second round of the 2013 Eurobasket tournament, the French and Italian National teams have already secured a position to advance into the Quarter-Finals through two games of the second round.
After falling to Lithuania on Wednesday to open the second round, France rebounded with an offensive ladened 102-91 victory over Latvia on Friday. San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker scored 23 points, Boris Diaw added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Nando De Colo scored eight points off the bench for France.
Italy, who had also lost their opening second round game to Slovenia on Thursday, lost back-to-back games as they fell to Croatia Saturday 76-68. Spurs guard Marco Belinelli shot 3-of-7 in the game for nine points, while also adding three assists but he was responsible for four turnovers in his 29 minutes of play.
In group E, France has 7 points and is just behind Lithuania for first place in the standings. France will face Serbia on Sunday to conclude the second round. In Group F, Italy is currently in 4th place in the standings with 6 points. The Italians will finish the second round with a game against Spain on Monday.
News of the advancement of both Italy and France came on Saturday from the tweets below.
France, Lithuania, Serbia Advance at EuroBasket: France, Lithuania and Serbia have each advanced to the quarte… http://t.co/89RARSnP0T
— HOOPSWORLD (@HOOPSWORLD) September 14, 2013
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Croatia, @Italbasket and Slovenia have already mathematically secured their spot in #EuroBasket2013 quarter-finals after today's games.
— EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 14, 2013
