The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : San Antonio Spurs reigns again

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Saturday, Jun 16, 2007
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San Antonio Spurs reigns again

The San Antonio Spurs edged out the Cleveland Cavaliers 83-82 on Thursday to capture its third NBA championship in five years with a 4-0 finals series sweep.

With the score tied at 66-66 and four minutes on the clock, San Antonio went on a decisive 8-0 run that was capped by Fabricio Oberto's basket from underneath with 2:01 remaining.

San Antonio shooting guard Manu Ginobili hit all six of his free throws in the final 24 seconds, including two with 1.9 seconds left that gave the Spurs an 83-79 lead.

A 25-foot, three-pointer by Cleveland guard Damon Jones at the buzzer provided the final margin but by that time, the pro-Cleveland crowd of 21,000 was silently leaving the arena.

"They made runs, we never panicked," Spurs centre Tim Duncan told reporters after being held to just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting. "It shows a lot of the experience, the poise that we've built over the years. I think we just outlasted them."

Ginobili scored 27 points and Tony Parker, selected the finals MVP, added 24 to lead the Spurs to its fourth title in 11 years.

Parker hit 10-of-14 shots on a variety of jumpers and drives to the basket over and around the Cavaliers' big men.

First European

Parker became the first European player to be named MVP of the finals but the French guard expects even more NBA glory from Europe's finest.

The San Antonio playmaker averaged 24.5 points a game to claim the award ahead of three-time MVP, team-mate Tim Duncan.

"It's great, just unbelievable," the Frenchman said about being named MVP.

"I'm speechless.

"When I look at that trophy I'm going to wake up tomorrow and it's still going to be a dream."

James disappoints

Cleveland forward LeBron James never got untracked in the finals and shot only 10-of-30 in scoring 24 points.

"If I don't play well, our team is not going to have a good chance to win," James said. "I've got a lot of things to work on to get better for next year."

San Antonio appeared well in control with an eight-point advantage after three quarters, but Cleveland scored the first 11 points of the final period to take a 63-60 lead with under seven minutes left.

Ginobili, an Argentine of Italian descent, scored 13 in the final period, repeatedly thwarting Cleveland's comeback bid.

"He did what he's done so many times, in Olympic games, in European (Euroleague) championships and in NBA championships," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

"He's just an ultimate competitor." — Agencies

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