SPORTS
Rol earns top spot for Swiss from free throw line
Baku, June 25, AZERTAC
Alexia Rol converted two free throws with one second on the clock to secure Switzerland a 16-15 victory over the Netherlands and top spot in Group A in the women's 3x3 Basketball competition on Wednesday.
"Generally, free throws are not my favourite exercise," said Rol. "But I had a good scoring game so I was confident. I scored the first one and the other one was a bonus. If I scored, we won and if not, it was overtime."
That stretched the Swiss winning streak to three games, a run matched by Ukraine and Spain, who topped Groups B and C respectively.
Russia finished first in Group D, winning the three-way tie-breaker with Romania and Lithuania, as all 16 teams advance and have now earned seeding for the last 16.
In the men's competition, Azerbaijan overcame Czech Republic 17-14 to make it three wins from three and earn the top seeding in Group D, but it is just the start, according to Rolandas Alijevas.
"We have played only three games but we can tell we have something," said Alijevas. "We are ready. We are going for the gold."
Serbia, Slovenia and Russia also went unbeaten through their first three games in the men's competition to secure first position in their groups.