Mendez’s men beat Hungary in Huelva and leave the ticket made with two games to go
MADRID, November 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s basketball team defeated Hungary (77-66) this Sunday at the Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marin in Huelva, a victory that puts Spain in Eurobasket 2023 almost certainly with two games to go in the qualifying phase.
Luis Mendez’s men left a game with ups and downs and certain nerves, but with more success than the Hungarians and decisiveness in the last quarter, where the match was tight. Spain (8 points) thus strengthens the leadership of Group C against its biggest rival (6) and therefore the direct ticket to the continental event.
Spain closed the second ‘window’ with full victories and the virtual ticket, and in February it will face Romania and Iceland, the two worst teams in the group. A great second quarter, the quality of Astou Ndour in attack and the commitment of Queralt Casas and Leo Rodriguez were key to the tight final victory.
Mendez once again enjoyed a good rotation after a shaky start. Ndour gave power to the four-time European champion, like Casas, fearing the Magyar strength in the interior. Alba Torrens also had an important entry but the young Reka Dombai equalized the first quarter (17-16).
Torrens extended the maximum and Spain marked differences while Hungary did not score one (43-29). The restart was good for the locals, with a toned pavilion and good minutes from Ndour. Mendez distributed minutes and facing the last quarter the local income was maintained, but a 0-5 partial tightened the match.
Hungary did not throw in the towel and wanted to fight for victory, but Spain’s final reaction was remarkable, with Ndour and Torrens avoiding a more exciting outcome. Mendez’s team closes the year thinking about the tests that he will be able to do in February with the ticket in his pocket for the June tournament in Slovenia and Israel.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 77 – HUNGARY, 66. (43-29, at halftime).
SPAIN: Cazorla (9), Casas (13), Conde (5), Carrera (6) and Ndour (21) –starting five–, Araujo (5), Romero (-), Rodriguez (11), Torrens ( 7).
HUNGARY: Agnes Studer (10), Debora Dubei (5), Reka Lelik (4), Cyesha Goree (10) and Virag Kiss (14) –starting five–, Veronika Kanyasi (7), Agnes Torok (-), Bernadett Horvath (3), Beatrix Meresz (2), Dombai (9), Dora Nagy (2).
–REFEREES: Attard, Gracin and Kardaris. No deleted.
–PAVILION: Carolina Marin Sports Palace.
