Poland had not been to the World Cup in 52 years.
Welcome back, indeed.
Poland – ranked 25th in the world entering this tournament – has clinched a spot in next week’s quarterfinals. Poland beat Russia, 79-74, in a second-round opener Friday in Foshan, China, a few hours before Argentina topped Venezuela, 87-67.
Those results mean Poland (4-0) and Argentina (4-0) are guaranteed spots in the round of eight.
Adam Waczynski scored 18 points and Mateusz Ponitka added 14 for Poland, which hadn’t been in the World Cup since 1967.
“It’s a great feeling but we don’t want to stop,” Poland guard Lukasz Koszarek said. “We know it’ll be more difficult and more difficult, but we don’t want to stop.”
Also clinching quarterfinal berths Friday: Serbia, which rolled past Puerto Rico, and Spain, which rallied past Italy.
Mikhail Kulagin scored a game-high 21 for Russia (2-2), which was eliminated from quarterfinal contention. The Russians play their second-round finale on Sunday against Venezuela.
Poland shot only 36%, but went 35 for 38 from the foul line.
SPAIN 67, ITALY 60
Ricky Rubio scored four of his 15 points in a 10-0 run down the stretch that put his team ahead for good, Juan Hernangomez finished with 16 points and Spain rallied past Italy to lock up a quarterfinal spot.
Marc Gasol’s only field goal of the game capped the run with 1:07 left for Spain (4-0). The win also clinched a quarterfinal spot for Serbia (4-0), which will face Spain on Sunday.
Danilo Gallinari scored 15 for Italy (2-2), which got 12 from Luigi Datome. Marco Belinelli was held to seven points on 3 for 16 shooting.
ARGENTINA 87, VENEZUELA 67
Gabriel Deck scored 25 points, Luis Scola added 15 and Argentina is back in the World Cup quarterfinals after missing out in 2014.
Argentina shot 53% and held Venezuela to 39% shooting. Michael Carrera led Venezuela with 19 points.
SERBIA 90, PUERTO RICO 47
At Wuhan, Serbia had no trouble with Puerto Rico on the way to remaining unbeaten.
Nemanja Bjelica scored 18 points, Boban Marjanovic added 16 and Nikola Jokic 14 for Serbia (4-0), which shot 56%. David Huertas scored 11 for Puerto Rico, which was held to 27% shooting.
“Not a lot to tell,” Serbia coach Sasha Djordjevic said.
Serbia is shooting 61% through four games so far at the World Cup. Jokic (20 for 24) and Marjanovic (19 for 23) are shooting a combined 83%. (AP)
CLASSIFICATION ROUND
Nigeria (2-2) 83, Ivory Coast (0-4) 66
Iran (1-3) 71, Angola (1-3) 62
Tunisia (2-2) 86, Philippines (0-4) 67
China (2-2) 77, South Korea (0-4) 73