Belarus vs Russia 1/4 final round, Day 9 of the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. 1 October 2010 Photo Fiba Elio Castoria
KARLOVY VARY (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Russia pulled off the big surprise of the FIBA World Championship for Women four years ago by upsetting the United States in the Semi-Finals.
On Friday at the 2010 event, it was Belarus that sprung the big surprise and Russia – the number two side in the FIBA World Rankings for Women – were on the losing end.
Anatoli Buyalski’s team, playing in the World Championship for the first time in their history, won 70-53.
Belarus will now face the winner of Australia’s Quarter-Final against the Czech Republic for the right to appear in the gold-medal game.
"I have to thank my girls for making history today,” Buyalski said. “I'm lost for words.”
Yelena Leuchanka took another step towards a spot on the All-Tournament team, pouring in 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds for Belarus.
Leuchanka has been downright awesome at this World Championship, averaging 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds.
The winners got big games very nearly everyone, in fact.
Natallia Marchanka bore the brunt of the Russian defensive pressure and had just three turnovers.
The veteran point guard finished with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds.
“Defense was the key today,” she said.
“We were ready to beat Russia for the first time ever and we are going to the Semi-Finals.”
The most important development for Belarus was the play of youngsters Yuliya Dureika and Aliaksandra Tarasava.
Dureika probably had her best-ever game for her country with 15 points.
She scored on drives to the basket and with jump shots, including a trio of three-pointers on four attempts.
“The victory is what’s most important for us today, not my performance,” Dureika said.
Tarasava entered the game in the third quarter and played four vital minutes of defense on Russia’s Becky Hammon, just as she looked set to lead her team to a comeback.
“Hammon is a great player,” Tarasava said. “I tried to play defense on her but it was very difficult.
“We’re very happy. It was such a great win for us.”
Belarus were nowhere on the women’s basketball map as recently as 2006 but the team qualified for the EuroBasket Women for the first time and captured the bronze medal.
They followed that by qualifying for the Olympics and after coming in sixth at the Beijing Games, Belarus finished fourth at the EuroBasket Women last in Latvia to earn a trip to the World Championship for the first time.
Now, they are one victory away from capturing a medal.
"I think it will be a holiday today in Belarus,” Marchanka said. “We are happy to give this gift to our country, our family and our fans.”
You can see Belarus' Semi Final with the winner of the Australia vs. Czech Republic game live on FIBATV.com.
FIBA