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France and Spain sail through as Latvia stun Slovenia

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France's Tony Parker goes for the basket against Turkey's Semih Erden during their 2015 EuroBasket …

LILLE, France (Reuters) - Holders France and former double winners Spain cruised into the European basketball championship quarter-finals with emphatic victories while Latvia also emerged as big winners on Saturday.

The three nations were joined by 1987 champions Greece who destroyed Belgium 75-54.

The opening last-16 clashes produced enthralling basketball in Lille's soccer stadium, adapted for the 24-nation tournament that doubles as an Olympic qualifier.

Roared on by a record-breaking indoor crowd of 26,135, France thrived on home support as they thumped Turkey 76-53.