Spain is runner -up in Europe after a dramatic end to Belgium. The selection was not able to keep an advantage of twelve points when four minutes left for the conclusion after an outstanding match. La Plata is an outstanding prize for a group immersed in an accelerated generational relay, with half a dozen players, premieing in a great competition. The real objective of the team was to achieve the classification for the Berlin World Cup. There were five squares and the victory against Las Cecas confirmed the World Cup. La Plata ratifies the extraordinary competitive regularity of the selection this century. They are eleven continental medals: three golds, three silver and five bronzes.
A detail at the beginning of the second quarter that reveals the attitude of this selection: Kyara Linskens, one of the Belgian interiors, was about to score in the low post and suddenly came the help of Elena Buenavida. 20 centimeters and 20 kilos except the Spanish. The resolution of the play? The Canarian cap with the left -handed one of the players that was decisive in the Eurobasket final two years ago. Spain is a monument to competitiveness and faith. But the good thing is that he has much more. Among other things, half a dozen rookie players in a great competition and who can already boast of being runner -up in Europe.
The matches against the Czech Republic and France matured to a group that even the coach commented that it was “above their level.” And so he continued in the final, in the reunion with the Belgians. Spain made a number of good decisions that only had as exception the losses of the first quarter and ended up digging the grave of gold. The team shared the ball very well and that criterion served to “the family” take control of the game. The titular quintet of the Belgians overflows quality and experience, but its bench is far from the performance offered by Spanish. That is why when only three Belgian players had scored with the very advanced game was the best sign that the defense of Spain was noticed again. As happened in the quarterfinals and in the semifinal.
Paula Ginzo was in charge of leading the contribution of the second unit. His 9 points in the second quarter were very valuable for the selection to take even more confidence. Because Belgium fell into one of the mistakes that France already made. It was obceiated with the outside and mistake (3/15 at rest) contrasted with the good shooting of Spain. In addition, the losses quota had been stopped and only the link of Linskens in the final stretch allowed the Belgians to straighten two first -rooms.
The control of the losses that had been achieved in the second quarter was unleashed in the third with half a dozen wasted possessions. And that problem resulted in new difficulties in defense and the appearance of errors in the free kick. Meesseman and Linskens began to send inside and Vanloo, in their ninth attempt, scored his first triple. The final balanced because the Belgian pull stopped when the time came for rotations. And in that scenario, Spain was superior. That is why he reached the decisive section ahead.
The selection was able to take advantage of its moment. Emma Meesseman, 32, began the last quarter on the bench and Spain took off again. He did it with other details that make this team great. A triple on the horn of Ayuso and a tray after theft of Pueyo forced Belgium to immediately recover his referent (57-49). It was not for less because the defense of Spain was again like the one that ended the Czechs and the French. Belgium was without scoring 5:09. And the best thing about the Spanish defense is that it brings clarity in attack. That is why Belgians were started in the rush (61-49, min. 36). Spain failed to close the game for Belgian talent and because several simple shots did not find a prize. A 4-15 partial left the Belgians live in the absence of 17.5 seconds. A loss of Spain ended up resurrecting them, 65-66 to 8 seconds from the end. The penultimate attack was also a chaos and Belgium was again the executioner of the National Team.
65. Spain (19+18+15+13): Ortiz (3), Pueyo (11), Torrens (3), Carrera (10) and FAM (9) -quinteto- Ayuso (11), Etxarri (0), Buenavida (4), Ginzo (11) and Vilaró (3).
67. Belgium (18+13+18+18): Vanloo (3), Allemand (19), Delaere (9), Meesseman (16) and Linskens (17) -quinteto titular- Mununga (), Claessens (), Ramette (2), Mbaka () and Joris ().
Referees: Salins (Let), Gajdosz (Pol) and Praksch (Hun). Without eliminated.
Incidents: 4,869 spectators in the Palace of Peace and Friendship. Party corresponding to the first semifinal of the Eurobasket.
Final Phase Eurobasket
Quarter finals
France, 83-lituania, 61
Italy, 74-Türkiye, 73
Spain, 88- Czech Republic, 81
Belgium, 83-Germany, 59
Semifinals
Spain, 65-France, 64
Italy, 64-Belgium, 66
End
Spain, 65-Belgium, 67
Third and fourth place: France, 54 -italia, 69