Croatia and Spain Both Advance to Quarterfinals

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Monday concluded the group stage action for men’s basketball in Rio. It was a particularly tense time in Group B, as all 6 participants entered the day technically still alive to advance to the quarterfinals as one of the top-4 teams.

Perennial powerhouse Spain could have been eliminated from the competition with a loss to Argentina, but instead looked dominant for the second straight game, easily defeating Manu Ginobili and his compatriots 92-73.

Future Sixer Sergio Rodriguez played 21 minutes off the bench, notching 5 points and 6 assists (against 5 turnovers). In 5 group stage contests, El Chacho averaged 7.2 points, while shooting 36.4% from the field and 8-21 (38.1%) from three. He also averaged 4.8 assists in just over 20 minutes of action per game.

For their trouble of finishing second in Group B, Spain will take on France Wednesday afternoon at 1:30pm est. Whoever advances will take on the winner of the United States and Argentina.

Although they entered the day with a top-4 spot clinched, Croatia could have finished anywhere from first to fourth depending on Monday’s outcome. Like Spain, Croatia stepped up to the challenge with a convincing 90-81 victory over Lithuania.

Dario Saric was excellent with 18 points on 7-12 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in a team-high 38 minutes. He once again showed off the similarities in his and Ben Simmons’ game with this coast-to-coast lay-in.

👀 Dario Saric https://t.co/emF4cS11R4

— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) August 16, 2016

Saric finished group play second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg, shooting 43.1% from the field and 5-19 (26.3%) from three. He led the team in rebounding at 7.2 per game, a mark which ranks 4th in the tournament behind Pau Gasol, Ike Diogu, and Luis Scola. Saric was also 2nd on the team in assists at 3.6 per night, backing up everything we’ve come to know about his outstanding play-making ability.

Croatia will play Serbia Wednesday night at 9:15pm est. The winner of that game will face the winner of Australia and Lithuania.

Dario Saric vs. Carmelo Anthony and Team USA in a gold medal game? We could be less than a week away.