The team raises the level at home and improves in its second trial towards the Eurobasket
MADRID, Aug. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s basketball team beat Greece (87-80) this Thursday at the WiZink Center in Madrid, the second set-up match for the EuroBasket in September that left a noticeable improvement and a tasty revenge.
Sergio Scariolo’s team, in formation like the debutant Juan Nuñez, took advantage of the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo due to some discomfort in his knee although he did not stop still on the bench, his executioner 48 hours before, and, with that greater equality of conditions, they took a you to you that allows you to grow. Spain will now face Lithuania in Gran Canaria (16) and Vilnius (18).
Without the Gasols, Sergio Rodriguez or Ricky Rubio, with Usman Garuba and Alberto Abalde in the call but ‘touched’, Spain took advantage of the energy of Sergio Llull, who missed the premiere of the tour, a good success of three and the outstanding performance by Willy Hernangomez (23 points and 10 rebounds) and Juancho (10 and 10), without the beast in front of them, yes. In addition, the work of Scariolo corrected errors and Spain, although they had to fight it, had good returns of 13, 12 and 14 points in the second, third and last quarter.
The date in Madrid brought only the second preparation match for the continental tournament, but Spain already had a pending account with its rival and the need to take advantage of every minute. In addition, the heat of the Palace, which encourages and does not suffocate like the endless wave, forced Scariolo’s team even more to go all out.
The beginning cost, between Juancho and Willy Hernangomez trying to minimize Kostas Antetokounmpo. He wasn’t ‘the good guy’, but the ‘Anteto’ family seemed to take it on Spain after Giannis’ display in Athens on Tuesday. Between the pivot and Calathes in the direction they gave the first rents to the visitors (8-13).
The entry of Llull and Rudy changed the scene and also encouraged the crowd, especially with triples. Fernandez plugged in two in a row, another Juancho and another Llull, while Grecia didn’t score a single one. At the beginning of the second quarter, the nationalized Brown also hit the mark and the Spanish team left on the scoreboard (45-32).
Scariolo’s team pressed on defense and between Willy, Jaime Fernandez and Llull’s leadership to steal and score they left Greece touched. A triple by Larentzakis restored confidence to the Greeks (3/13 in triples), while the hoop was closed for Spain on the way to the locker room to lose the good lead (45-40).
Papanikolaou wanted to awaken the success of his team, but Brown and Juancho responded in that good Spanish tune with the triple. Then came the debut of Nuñez, champion and MVP of the recent U-20 European Championship, and Spain, with Willy dominating under hoops, escaped again (65-53). Dimitrios Itoudis’ men did not throw in the towel in another approach, but the last quarter was the Greek surrender.
Dario Brizuela added points in a game that at times seemed to convince Scariolo, strong in defense, with recovery and rhythm in attack (77-63). Spain achieved the maximum, but the Italian coach did not stop trying, without looking at the light, to file a new squad in search of 12 chosen to keep the Spanish team on the continental podium, without giving up the fourth gold.
–RESULTS: SPAIN, 87 – GREECE, 80. (45-40, at halftime).
SPAIN: Brown (8), Lopez-Arostegui (-), Pradilla (12), Juancho Hernangomez (10), Willy Hernangomez (23) –starting five–, Brizuela (5), Jaime Fernandez (6), Llull ( 6), Rudy (6), Guerra (4), Nuñez (-), Parra (-), Saiz (7).
GREECE: Calathes (8), Tyler Dorsey (9), Agravanis (24), Papanikolaou (5) and Kostas Antetokounmpo (6) –starting five–, T. Antetokounmpo (1), Bochoridis (5), Kalaitzakis (- ), Kaselakis (5), Kouzeloglou (-), Larentzakis (7), Lountzis (2) and Papapetrou (8).
–REFEREES: Count, Castillo and Calatrava. Without eliminated.
–PAVILLION: WiZink Center, 13,047 spectators.
