Marc Gasol (C) of Spain competes during the group C match between Spain and Tunisia at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
GUANGZHOU, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- A crazy second half helped Spain trounce Tunisia 101-62 in Group C in the FIBA Basketball World Cup here on Saturday.
Spain led by only three points by the end of the first half, but they were completely different team and outscored Tunisia 46 points in the second half.
"Spain had a better second half, they made seventeen three-pointers. It was not normal," Tunisia coach Mario Palma said after the match.
Spain showed a near perfection overall attack with six players scoring double digits. Ricky Rubio had a game-high 17 points and Sergio Llull added 16.
"The first game is always tricky. We didn't do well in the first half, but we can get easy baskets in the second half to gain confidence," Rubio said.
"All of the 12 players played tonight, everybody can give something, that is good for us," he added.
Spain opened the game with a 7-0 run, before Tunisia fought back hard to take the lead 17-16 in the first quarter.
Quino Colom buried a three-pointer to start the second quarter, before Sergio Llull hit two consecutive three-pointers and Rudy Fernandez added another. Marc Gasol made a jump shot as Spain railed to a 14-0 run and regain a 33-29 lead. Spain entered the halftime break leading 42-39.
Fernandez and Rubio combined to gift Spain an 11-0 run in the beginning of the second half. With a double-digit lead, Spain controlled well and the game flowed at their most comfortable rhythm. Spain increased their lead to 72-47 by the end of third quarter.
The game turned into a slaughter as Spain kept scoring easy baskets in the fourth quarter.
"We had been overaggressive in the first half. In second half, we were more solid, players shared the ball well and we had a huge number of assists," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said.
"The first game is good for us to get rid of tension. We will close this chapter and move on," the Italian added.
