Two of the top title contenders at EuroBasket 2013 will face off in the Semi-Finals as two-time defending champions Spain and France each won their Quarter-Finals Wednesday - with the French also qualifying for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the process.
Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez combined for 41 points in Spain's 90-60 blasting of Serbia in the first Quarter-Final at Stozice Arena. (read full story and watch Spain vs Serbia game highlights video here)
Tony Parker took over the second Final Eight match-up as the star playmaker scored 27 points in France's 72-62 win over hosts Slovenia. (read full story and watch France vs Slovenia game highlights video here)
Many expected Spain and France to meet up in the Final in Ljubljana. But the two powers will square off in Friday's Semi-Finals. In 2011, Spain knocked off France 98-85 in the Final to claim their second consecutive European crown.
Spain fended off any doubts of their class over the first two weeks of EuroBasket 2013 and booked the first spot in the Last Four by cruising past Serbia.
Les Bleus clinched their place in Spain in 2014 by sending tournament hosts Slovenia crashing in Wednesday's second Quarter-Final.
Parker led all players in scoring, while Nicolas Batum collected 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Boris Diaw chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
Slovenia got 18 points from Goran Dragic while Zoran Dragic added 12 points andBostjan Nachbar had 10 points in the loss.
"Tony was amazing," Goran Dragic said about Parker.
"One of the best point guards in the European championship and the world. We didn't play smart enough."
The Quarter-Final action continues Thursday with three teams looking to book spots at Spain 2014.
The first game of the day will be the 5-8 classification game between Slovenia and Serbia. That will be followed by the two remaining Quarter-Finals, with Croatia squaring off against Ukraine before Lithuania play Italy.
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