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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Victor Claver poured in 31 points as Spain edged Puerto Rico 91-89 in Group D on opening day of the FIBA U19 World Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia.

In a thrilling clash that wasn't decided until the very end, Jorge Bryan Diaz made the second of two free throws with 43 seconds remaining to level the contest at 86-86.

Diaz then fouled Pamesa Valencia's Claver with 24 seconds to play.

He went to the stripe and made his first attempt but missed the second.

The Puerto Ricans failed to box out Claver's team-mate Javier Vega, however, and he tapped the ball in for an 89-86 lead.

Puerto Rico called timeout, and when play resumed, Luis Damian Morales laid one up and in with 10 seconds left to cut the deficit to one.

The team from the FIBA Americas were unable to get the steal on the inbounds play and fouled Xavi Forcada, who made both shots to restore Spain's three-point advantage with six seconds to play.

Again, Jorge Otero called timeout to instruct his players to launch an attempt from three-point range.

Spain did not allow this, though, and fouled Josue Soto with two seconds left.

Soto made the first, but missed the second intentionally in the hope he or one of his teammates would grab the offensive rebound and put up a potential game-tying shot.

Claver made certain that wasn't going to happen by grabbing the rebound - his 13th of the contest - as Spain held on.

Spain enjoyed a 52-34 advantage in rebounds.

They almost threw this victory away with terrible free throw shooting.

Mateo Rubio's team converted just 19 of 35 (54.2%) at the line.

Claver, for all his dominance - he was also four of six (66.6%) from three-point range - hit just five of 10 (50%) from the charity stripe.

Forcada finished the game with 20 points, while Vega had 11 rebounds to go with his 13 points.

Quim Colom also had 13 points and six assists.

For Puerto Rico, Angel Luis Garcia led the way by drilling three of six from the arc and finishing with 22 points.

FIBA