The Spanish men’s team will once again compete in the Olympic Games, as it has every four years in the 21st century. The perseverance, enthusiasm and above all the defensive recital of Sergio Scariolo’s team overcame the quality of an anarchic Bahamas (86-78).
They say talent wins games and effort wins championships. This was seen yesterday in a final that showed the one-on-one quality of Buddy Hield, Eric Gordon and DeAndre Ayton, but also their defensive shortcomings, brought by the offensive clairvoyance of Lorenzo Brown who is the great offensive reference . of a selection completely transformed by the entry of Usman Garuba.
In the selection of unexpected heroes, yesterday was the center, who was huge in the paint and dominated the number 1 in the draft like DeAndre Ayton to control the rebound and help Spain completely upset an individual Bahamas.
No one wants to miss the game. Not even a Pau Gasol who wants to take advantage of the hole left in the zone by DeAndre Ayton in the ‘pick and roll’ defense. However, Willy also benefited from this and developed from there the attack of a team that drank from the points of Santi Aldama.
However, he did not escape from a forced Bahamas. Ayton, a trickster in the back but a norm in the front, was able to balance to leave the first quarter without a master (17-17).
The rotation, including Alberto Díaz and Jaime Pradilla, was not as effective against the Bahamas, but the arrival of Usman Garuba on the court began to unbalance the match. The interior, based on the blocks, calmed the Bahamas and, more importantly, controlled Ayton’s rebound, a major factor in the elimination of a Bahamas that was hoping for an external victory that it did not have. Despite the tie, Spain felt superior and Lorenzo Brown lit up La Fonteta with three consecutive triples that opened a small gap (39-31, m.18) for the team, which still remained ahead at halftime (42-34). .
Brown and Willy’s score further stretched the lead (48-36, m.23), but the Bahamas made it harder at the back seeing it as the only way to reach the last five minutes of life. But it was too late. Darío Brizuela’s triple (61-47, m.28) extended the lead, although Ayton’s last push for the lead left the Caribbean team alive in the last quarter (65-56).
But the last quarter was Scariolo’s new recital. Garuba, Rudy Fernández, Alberto Díaz… the Caribbean team, with Gordon, Hield and Ayton, was left without a weapon despite the fact that Hield, with three minutes left, got the Bahamas into the game with four consecutive points (79-71). , m. 39).
But, as against Finland, the figure of Willy Hernagómez appeared again. Despite triples from Munnings and Edgecombe Jr, the reaction was non-existent. Yes, yes, yes, we’re going to Paris!, sang the dedicated Fonteta.
Data sheets
Spain-Bahamas, 86-78
86.- Spain (17+25+23+21): Brown (18), Llull (7), López-Arostegui (2), Aldama (12), Willy Hernangómez (15) – starting five – Díaz (-), Núñez (-), Brizuela (9), Rudy Fernández (9), Garuba (10) and Pradilla (4).
78 – Bahamas (17+17+22+22): Gordon (15), Hield (19), Munnings (10), Nairn (-), Ayton (17) -starting five-, Miller (-), Edgecombe Jr ( 12), Freeman (-), Smith (3), Albury (), Hunter (-) and Burrows (2).
Referees: Kozlovskis (LAT), Batista (PUR) and Krejic (SLO). Nothing was removed.
Incidents: final of the Valencia Pre-Olympic Tournament, held at La Fonteta before 7,035 spectators. The meeting was attended by former Spanish internationals such as Pau Gasol, Víctor Claver and Fernando Romay as well as the mayor of València María José Catalá.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Jason Root, a professional writer working with Today Times Live, the premier news website. I specialize in sports writing, covering the biggest stories in the world of athletics. With an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I provide engaging and informative articles that capture the key elements of any event or issue. My work has been featured on numerous respected websites and publications around the world.
