Spain beat Finland 100-90 to reach the EuroBasket semi-finals. Lassi Tuovi’s team fought to the end, but in decisive moments, big shots from Rudy Fernandez brought qualification to Sergio Scariolo’s team.

In the fourth round of the tournament, the Spaniards will play either Greece or Germany.

Wards Scariolo came to the match with the gas pedal. Thanks to a two-pointer from Hernangomet, the home team took an 8-2 lead, but the Finns cut the lead to a point (8-7) with successive points from Haff and Markkanen.

The Spaniards made mistakes in attack, allowing Lassi Tuovi’s team to play 9-14 with Madsen. The difference reached 8 points (11-19) with Valtonen’s layoff. Usually the visitors were 10 points ahead (17-27) with the first quarter ending 19-30 with an incredible 3-pointer from Jadunen from behind the center.

No less impressive were the Finns at the beginning of the second quarter. With two points from Valtonen, Tuovi’s team reached 22-37, while the Spaniards responded with Juancho and Hernangomet. The same player reduced the gap to single digits (29-37) with a basket and a penalty with about five minutes left.

The Spaniards, however, made mistakes, and usually the guests reached 29-41 with Yandunen. The Finns made over 50% of their shots from the three-point line and led by 15 points (33-48) on Markkanen’s shots. The difference remained high: the Spaniards reacted in the final segment of the second period and reduced it to 43-52 with Garuba.

With four consecutive points scored by Willy Hernangomet, Spain cut the lead to 47-52 at the start of the third period. Scariolo’s player stepped up the defense and cut the lead to 51-53 thanks to Brown’s two-pointer. Jandunen called for Finland, but the Rojas took a 60-57 lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Par with five minutes left in the third period.

Little’s timely shot equalized the score (60:60) with the Spaniards again leading by three points thanks to a three-pointer from Juancho. The Finns didn’t give up, they overtook (63-64) Markkanen’s shots again, but it’s typical that the hosts stepped on the gas at the end of the period and reached 73-65 with Diat’s three-pointer.

The Finns lost to Salina (73-69) early in the fourth quarter. The Spaniards went 80-73 with Garuba’s 3-pointer, but usually the visitors answered with Jadunen. Madsen’s two field goals cut Finland’s lead to 82-80, but Scariolo’s players responded again to take a 90-82 lead thanks to a Rudy three-pointer with three minutes remaining.

With a new three-pointer from Real Madrid’s ace, the difference reached 11 points (95-84), effectively qualifying Sergio Scariolo’s team.

Quarters: 19-30, 43-52, 73-67, 100-90.

Spain (Scariolo): Brituela 14 (2), Brown 10 (4 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 assists, 2 steals), Diat 6 (2), Rudy 11 (3/5 3s, 5 steals), Jaime, Garuba 7 (1 3-pointer, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), Willy Hernangomet 27 (10/13 2-pointers, 7/8 shots, 5 rebounds), Juancho Hernangomet 15 (3/4 2-pointers, 2/7 3-pointers, 3/3 shots, 4 rebounds), Lopez – Arostegui 2, Parra 5 (1/4 three-pointers), Pradia 3 (1).

Finland (Tuovi): Half 5 (1), Jantunen 18 (4/6 2-pointers, 2/3 3-pointers, 4/5 shots), Kantonen (0/3 shots), Koponen 3 (1), Little 6 (1 3- pointer, 6 assists, 3 fouls), Madsen 13 (4/5 2-pointers, 5/6 shots, 3 rebounds), Markkanen 28 (8/12 2-pointers, 2/5 3-pointers, 6/7 shots, 11 rebounds, 3 assists), Maksuni 2 (1/6 shots, 4 assists, 5 fouls), Salin 11 (2), Valtonen 4 (5 rebounds).