Russia captured their second continental championship and booked a spot in the 2008 Olympics by holding off Spain 74-68 in Sunday's final of the 2007 EuroBasket Women, but not before they nearly blew a 21-point lead.

Ilona Korstin led the way for Russia with 18 points while Tatiana Shchegoleva chipped in 14 points off the bench including the decisive lay-up with 13 seconds remaining after Spain had missed a chance to trim the margin to two points 10 seconds earlier.

After two previous and successful campaigns Igor Grudin now possesses a more experienced but still very young team with a better understanding of his defensive concept. With their speedy wings and fluid front line, Russia will definitely try to play at the speed they always have but avoid playing out-of-control as has sometimes happened in the past. They should be improved from distance as slasher Ilona Korstin found her outside shooting touch this season. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the European vice-champions have no reasons to rack their brains, with their biggest worry being the health and freshness of the team’s cornerstone Maria Stepanova.