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SPORTS Thursday 27 sepTember 2018
Early round of World Cup full of upsets and surprises

By DOUG FEINBERG a close game in overtime port.
AP Basketball Writer against Japan," Belgium "It was a great atmosphere,
SANTA CRUZ DE TENER- guard Julie Allemand said. even better than WNBA
IFE, Spain (AP) — The pre- "We are going to enjoy this kids games because they
liminary round of the FIBA now and rest for two days. were cheering for both
Women's Basketball World To get to the top eight of sides," said Jazmon Gwath-
Cup had its share of upsets, the competition first-time, is mey, who scored 23 points
comebacks and surprises. amazing." for Puerto Rico and plays
Two African nations quali- Spain wasn't complete- for the Indiana Fever in the
fied for the knockout round, ly distraught by the loss WNBA.
with Nigeria and Senegal though, as now the Span- CANADIAN COMEBACK:
both advancing. It's the first iards will avoid potentially Canada came to the
time that any team from meeting the U.S. until the World Cup with a few goals
that continent has made gold medal game. in mind. The first was to win
it this far — let alone two The Americans, to no sur- their group. They can cross
teams. prise, went 3-0 in the pre- that off the list now.
"It feels good off the back liminary round. Although "We understand that win-
of making history with our they definitely had a ning the pool is great but
first win against Turkey to tougher time than expect- there's so much more to
have now followed it up by ed against Senegal and come," said Kia Nurse, who
beating Argentina," Nige- China before blowing out led Canada with 18 points
ria guard Ezinne Kalu said. Latvia. The U.S. passed the in the win over France on
"We're working hard and 100-point mark in its last Tuesday night.
staying focused. It is excit- two games, becoming only "So to be able to put our-
ing for us making more and the second team — along selves in this situation to go
more history with a team with the Soviet Union — to in, have two days off, give
that is very closely bonded reach the century mark in us a chance to be able
together, and we want to two pool games. to scout a little extra, get
continue on this journey for The Americans, along with some practice in and work
longer." Australia, Canada and Bel- In this July 12, 2017, file photo, Indiana Fever's Jazmon Gwath- on things we want to get
mey (1) goes to the basket against San Antonio Stars' Kelsey
Belgium, playing in its first gium, earned byes to the Plum (10) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game better at, it's a great situa-
World Cup, won Group C quarterfinals on Friday. in Indianapolis. tion."
with a nine-point victory Wednesday's quarterfinal Associated Press Canada trailed France by
over host Spain on Tues- qualifiers will feature Spain- 15 points in the first half and
day. Emma Meesseman Senegal, Nigeria-Greece, strong, with games taking to support the two teams by 10 at intermission before
hit a layup just before the Japan-China and France- place over the weekend. and also brought in drums, getting going in the second
buzzer to give Belgium a Turkey. With the final day of the creating a festive atmo- half and pulling away to an
wide enough margin of Here are a few other tidbits preliminary round on Tues- sphere. Usually camp and 11-point win and clinch the
victory to clinch first place from the preliminary pool: day, the local organiz- school days in the WNBA top seed in Group A.
in the pool. SCHOOL DAYS: The crowds ing committee brought in have the kids cheering for The Canadians had a lot of
"I think it is one of our big- for the opening two days school kids to fill the stands the home team. Here, with chance to be even closer
gest ever wins and espe- of play at the FIBA Wom- for the early 11 a.m. tip. the kids equally divided, at the half, but missed a lot
cially to get it after losing en's World Cup have been They made flags and signs both sides had loud sup- of layups.q
SERGIO GARCIA he told Bjorn he wanted to one," McIlroy said. "He
Continued from Page 17 play to ensure he would be (Garcia) likes to have fun.
And the start of Ryder Cup sharp heading to France He never lets the environ-
week has proved just why for the Ryder Cup. ment or the atmosphere
he was chosen. It appears Garcia will be get too serious, and I think
Fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm much more than a cheer- that's one of the big things
spoke Wednesday about leader this week. about European Ryder
Garcia's "contagious" en- "I think that I've proved my- Cups over the past few
thusiasm and energy. Bjorn self over and over," Garcia years. We've basically left
has already talked about said, "and the only thing I any sort of egos at the
Garcia's ability to "rally the can do out there is when door."
troops" and act like the I get called upon playing, In that sense, and in many
captain of a soccer team. just do my best, do what others, Garcia has fol-
Rory McIlroy described him I do, do what I've always lowed in the footsteps of
as the "heartbeat" of the done here at Ryder Cups, the late Seve Ballesteros,
European team. and that's everything." another fiery and fun-lov- Europe's Sergio Garcia plays a shot from the 1st tee during a
practice round for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Saint-Quentin-en-
"I think just everyone loves Garcia has played in ev- ing Spaniard who played Yvelines, outside Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018.
Sergio," McIlroy said. ery Ryder Cup since 1999 a key role in the European Associated Press
Significantly for Garcia's except for 2010, when resurgence in the Ryder
own peace of mind, his he was a vice captain. It Cup in the 1990s as both even go on to threaten think he understands me
form might be returning. has coincided with a long player and captain. At Le that record. The 23-year- as a fellow Spaniard, as
The 2017 Masters champi- stretch of success for the Golf National, Garcia will old Rahm is one of five both fiery players, I think he
on hasn't shot higher than Europeans, who have won overtake Ballesteros as the rookies in the European understands me more than
70 in his last eight competi- six of the last eight editions. Spaniard with most Ryder team and, to many, a fu- anybody else. Whether we
tive rounds. He closed the "A lot of these Ryder Cup Cup appearances, with ture top-ranked player. play together or not, he's
Portugal Masters last week teams, it's about continu- nine. "It's always been a dream going to be able to help
with a 65 for a seventh- ity and about bringing the Rahm is cut from a similar of mine to share the stage me out most out of any-
place finish at an event same mind-set to each cloth to Garcia and could with Sergio," Rahm said. "I body in the world."q