The National Team has managed to pave its way to the EuroBasket 2025 and travels from Limassol to Riga with the top spot in Group A. It will now face Israel next Sunday (7/9) and if it qualifies, the winner of the Lithuania – Latvia match will be the winner.
Spain wanted too much, but it couldn't hold on. Although a shadow of its glorious past, it fought bravely, until it surrendered (90-86) after a 40-minute battle. In fact, it was dethroned, as it will hand over the scepter it held for three years, remaining out of succession.
The super beginning of the National
The way Sergio Scariolo chose to defend initially stripped Spain bare. The assists to Giannis Antetokounmpo left the perimeter uncovered and the Greek shooters punished it martyrically. With 4/4 three-pointers to start and 8/10 thereafter, they formed a favorable situation (24-14, 36-23) for the National Team from the start.
The Rocha covered 2/3 of the distance, but for the most part, it was fighting in vain. Dorsey's return to the court and the correct distances for the Greek Freak's sake quickly restored order.
Undoubtedly, the management of the +15 (50-35) from the 20th minute should have been much wiser than Greece, because the Spaniards found both rhythm and confidence, regaining contact with the score. However, because G. Antetokounmpo managed to create chances for himself, the National Team coped with the pressure.
Not completely, but to the extent that it maintained its lead for quite a while. That is, until Spain caught up and overtook it (73-72, 77-75). It repeated this at 84-82 in 37’30”.
At least with its leader doing everything on the court, really everything (25 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists), it managed to do the obvious in the end: namely, to break the resistance of a team of inferior quality and take first place ahead of Italy. It would be suicidal to miss such an opportunity for a path without high obstacles in the next two phases of the competition. Now, of course, its resilience will be proven.
The quarters: 20-31, 35-50, 63-68, 86-90
Spain: Puerto 2, De Larrea 6 (0/3pt, 6as), Prandilla 14 (3/4pt, 2/3pt, 2as), Saint-Superior 13 (3/7pt, 1/2pt), Lopez-Arostegui 12 (3/4pt, 6p), Aldama 12 (1/7pt, 8p, 2as), Brijuela, B. Hernangomez 6 (3p), Justa 9 (1/3pt), J. Hernangomez 5 (1/3pt), Para 7 (0/2pt, 3p 3as), Sima
Greece: Dorsey 22 (6/9f, 5r, 4as), Larentzakis, Toliopoulos 4 (1/3f), Sloukas 12 (3/4f, 1/2f, 3r, 6as, 3l), Kalaitzakis 4 (0/2f), Papanikolaou 11 (3/8f, 5r), Katsivelis 3 (1/1f), G. Antetokounmpo 25 (9/15f, 7/12b, 14r, 9as), K. Antetokounmpo 6 (2r), Th. Antetokounmpo 1, Mitoglou 2 (2r)
The remaining results of Group C
- Bosnia – Georgia 84-76
- Italy – Cyprus 89-54
The final standings of Group C
- Greece 4-1 (+78)
- Italy 4-1 (+63)
- Bosnia 3-2 (0)
- Georgia 2-3 (-19)
- Spain 2-3 (+43)
- Cyprus 0-5 (-165)
