FIBA World Cup: Has Pau Gasol Played His Last Game For Spain?

Spain was shocked by France in the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup on Wednesday 65-52. Spain was the overwhelming favorite to the win the World Cup as they were not only the host country, but featured a team of NBA All-Stars in Pau and Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka , Ricky Rubio and more.

Spain was expected to meet the United States in a gold medal match on Sunday, but with the loss, team USA’s chances of winning the championship now appear to be greater. The United States plays Lithuania in their semifinal match on Thursday. .

Spain was utterly dominant in their first six games of the World Cup, including a 24-point rout of France in group play. But France clearly learned from that loss a week ago and were able to stop Spain’s frontcourt attack and force them to the perimeter.

What makes France’s upset over Spain even more impressive is France was without their own duo of NBA All-Stars, Tony Parker and Joakim Noah. Instead, France was led by San Antonio Spurs forward Boris Diaw who had 15 points and Portland Trailblazers star Nicholas Batum who added 9.

France was overpowered by the frontcourt trio of the Gasol Brothers and Ibaka in their first meeting and made more of a conscience effort on Wednesday to fight inside. It worked as France won the battle on the glass, 50 to 28.

Pau had an efficient 17 points for Spain, but Marc and Ibaka went a combined 2-14 from the field for 5 points. France forced the ball to the perimeter, which put tremendous pressure on Spain’s guards to hit from downtown. Normally reliable from beyond the arc, Spain’s guards didn’t have it tonight shooting 2 of 22 from downtown.

After the game, and the realization that they had been eliminated had sunk in, attention shifted to Pau Gasol who at 34 years old may have played his last game with the Spanish National team.

“You never know when your last game or tournament will be,” The former Lakers center said. “I would like to play until I am 50, but I doubt it. We have great young players coming up and I’m sure that we have a good team in the future.”

Pau’s next opportunity to win the gold medal will be in two years in Brazil for the 2016 Olympic games.