AlQa'dah 22, 1436, September 06, 2015, SPA -- Serbia toppled Spain in a high class showdown on Saturday's opening day of EuroBasket 2015 while reigning champions France struggled to get an overtime win and Netherlands pulled a surprise, dpa correspondents reported. Spain led by 12 points in the first half but the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup runners-up Serbia streaked to a strong 80-70 victory in Group B in Berlin. Nemanja Bjelica collected 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Serbs while Nemanja Nedovic added 14 points in the win. Pau Gasol paced Spain with 16 points while Nikola Mirotic had 10 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort. Germany also picked up a victory in their Group B opener as NBA players Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schroeder both scored 15 points in a 71-65 win over Iceland. The Group of Death Group B also saw Turkey down Italy 89-87 in a battle of heavyweights. Semih Erden scored 22 points for the Turks while Ersan Ilyasova and Ali Muhammed added 17 points. Italy wasted a 33-point showing from Danilo Gallinari. France nearly were upset as the Group A home team in Montpellier but survived with a 97-87 victory in overtime over Finland. France's superstar Tony Parker collected 23 points while Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo both chipped in 16 points. Jamar Wilson poured in 21 points but Finland could not get the job done in overtime.
