p16_Layout 1 9/13/14 9:27 PM Page 1 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS MADRID: Serbia’s centre Nenad Krstic (left) vies with France’s centre Rudy Gobert MADRID: An acrobat performs during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships semifinal match France vs Serbia at the Palaciode los during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships semifinal match France vs Deportes in Madrid on September 12, 2014. Serbia won 90-85. — AFP Serbia at the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid on September 12, 2014. — AFP Serbia hold off France to reach final MADRID: Serbia held off France 90-85 in the other Serbs had 10 points as they defeated Spain even though Nicolas Batum did score 35 15 after one quarter. Serbia opened the sec- quickly got the lead to the magical 10-point semi-finals of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World France, who had beaten hosts and major title points - 17 of those in the fourth quarter - and ond quarter with a 10-0 run for a 30-15 lead, barrier. And then Diaw, Batum and Evan Cup in Madrid on Friday to set up a title fight contenders Spain in the quarters. “What can I Boris Diaw had 13. and a 7-0 surge later in the quarter pushed the Fournier all nailed three-pointers to cut the against undefeated reigning champions the say about Milos? He’s our leader. He is one of The reigning European champions now margin to 18 points - 43-25. The Serbs were Serbian lead down to 65-61 with five minutes United States. Serbia won five world titles as the best point guards in the world. But this face off against Lithuania in the game for third leading 46-32 at the break - thanks to Teodosic to play. Bogdanovic came up with a big three- part of Yugoslavia as recently as 2002 but they was a great team performance,” said Nikola place, looking for their first-ever podium fin- scoring 10 points in the second period. pointer and layup to keep France at at bay and now have reached their first final since inde- Kalinic. In their first worlds as Serbia, the ish. France’s previous best showing was fourth France tried to get back into the game but then Teodosic’s three-pointer made it 77-68 pendence. They next play the United States Balkan giants reached the third place game in in 1954. France were able to stay with Serbia in they could not get enough defensive stops. with three minutes left. Batum, Diaw and who beat Lithuania 96-68 in Barcelona on 2010 but lost to Lithuania. But Sasha first five minutes before Teodosic really began Vincent Collet’s team cut the gap to 53-41 but Thomas Heurtel all knocked down three- Thursday. Djordjevic’s men have secured at least second to take control of the game. The playmaker Serbia continued to have an answer for every pointers to trim the gap to 82-79 but France Milos Teodosic led the way with 24 points place this time around. France were unable to had six points and one assist in an 11-0 run to France push and the advantage was 61-46 couldn’t stop Serbia at the other end as they while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 13 and three repeat their dazzling performance against give Serbia a 20-10 lead. The cushion was 21- after 30 minutes. France did not give up and coasted into Sunday’s final.—AFP High demand for the Rugby WCup tickets LONDON: Some supporters had to wait for ing in a queue, so that’s pretty good and up to an hour online when tickets for next there haven’t been any technological year’s Rugby World Cup in England went on issues.” general sale on Friday. However, England Meanwhile Jevans warned fans not to Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans buy tickets from unauthorized secondary insisted the computer system had worked websites which in some cases were adver- well but that demand was “high” with up to tising tickets for more than 10 times their 50,000 people waiting in a queue. value. One site was even offering a ticket Officials reminded fans that they could for the final at £8,870 ($14,428, 11,130 wait to submit their application until the euros) when the most expensive official sales window closes on September 29 price is £715. “We don’t know if that ticket because tickets will be distributed via a bal- exists,” said Jevans. “I am passionate that we lot rather than on a first-come-first-served have our tickets at face value and getting basis. “Applications have gone really well. to fans. I don’t like seeing tickets as com- The queue time was about an hour, which modities, I want to see them getting into is what we anticipated. There’s been good the hands of people who want to watch enthusiasm,” Jevans said. “We were able to the event.” Over-subscribed games will be have thousands of people on the site at the decided via a ballot after the sales window same time and it’s been going well. “People shuts on September 29. Prices for adults are applying for tickets across all 48 match- range from £15 for low-profile group es and that’s what made me really pleased. games up to £715 for the most expensive “At one point there were over 50,000 wait- seat for the final at Twickenham.— AFP Political football as competition starts SEOUL: Japan and hosts South Korea will get Cup experience: goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu, LA ROCHELLE: La Rochelle’s captain Uini Atonio (center) is tackled by Castres’s Ray Kockott (left) and Piula Faasalele (right) during the the Asian Games off to an unofficial start today Mainz 05 defender Park Joo-Ho and 6ft 5in French Top 14 rugby union match La Rochelle vs Castres on September 12, 2014 at the Marcel Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle, southwest- when the bitter rivals begin their bids for glory (1.95m) Ulsan Hyundai striker Kim Shin-Wook. ern France. —AFP in what could be a tense football competition. “He has great skills for a player his size. I think Former war-time aggressor Japan, the defend- he should really thrive against Asian oppo- ing champions, can expect a frosty reception nents,” said Lee of Kim Shin-Wook. Iran, whose La Rochelle overpower by home fans as they taste their first action in four titles remains an Asian Games record, are Incheon, five days before the opening ceremo- expected to be Japan and South Korea’s clos- ny. Officials will be braced for a repeat of their est challengers in the men’s competition. controversial London Olympics clash if both Twenty-nine countries will compete across Castres; Bobo runs riot Japan and South Korea, bracketed in separate eight groups, with the top two progressing to groups, reach the October 2 final. the knockout stages. Each squad is restricted In 2012, after South Korea won 2-0 to to under-23s and three over-age players. In the PARIS: Veteran Fijian winger Sireli Bobo ran riot this victory and we achieved it.” Collazo’s men Murimurivalu notched up a fourth try for the secure the bronze medal, Park Jong-Woo held women’s, Japan are grouped with three-time as he helped lift newly-promoted La Rochelle off could also thank the indiscipline of their visitors hosts after 55 minutes to extend their lead to 34- up a sign saying “Dokdo is our territory”, refer- winners China. They also can expect a chal- the bottom of the Top 14 table with a 41-16 vic- during a balanced first half, and their scrum-half 16. La Rochelle did not crack faced with Castres ring to a highly charged dispute over a group lenge from 2002 and 2006 champions North tory which piled more misery on Castres. Julien Audy who proved effective with the boot, attempts to break through and managed to pick of islands. Park was hit by a two-match ban but Korea, who have reached the last four finals. Castres, the 2013 champions and last season’s accounting for 19 of the hosts points on the up their first bonus point of the season two min- it did not stop rival groups of Korean and Japan coach Norio Sasaki, constrained by his Top 14 runners-up, are in huge difficulty since night. utes from time when Bobo’s dramatic 90 metres Japanese fans unfurling political banners European-based players’ club commitments, their opening defeat to Stade Francais, and now La Rochelle flyhalf Jean-Pascal Barraque run bore fruit to earn him a standing ovation. “We when the sides met at last year’s East Asia Cup. has picked some new faces alongside highly prop up the bottom of the table after five opened with a try after 12 minutes which was can’t deny we’re in a critical situation with just six A final between Japan and South Korea would decorated stalwarts like Aya Miyama.— AFP matches. duly converted by Audy as Castres multiplied points in four matches,” admitted Castres deputy mean a security headache for organisers in Bobo, 38, touched down two of his side’s four the errors to trail 19-9 at the break. Back from coach David Darricarrere. “But it’s not a reason to what would be a game brimming with emo- tries to the delight of the close on 15,000 specta- the locker room Bobo once again punished bury our heads in a bucket.