Spain against the stars: this is how the rivalry against the Dream Team came to life

The Choosing Spanish facing the Olympic Games Barcelona ’92 the most remembered team in world basketball history: the Dream Team of the United States, the first American team to compete in an Olympics with professional NBA players, a milestone that marks 30 years this July and August.

The unforgettable group led by Michael Jordan, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and Larry Birdsupported by Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton and Christian Laettner, are the great attraction of the Barcelona Games and those hoping for a good show were not disappointed.

Despite the difficulty in their training, both in the offices of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) so that American professionals were allowed to compete, and in the stars themselves so that they their egos in the service of a teamthe Dream Team arrived in Barcelona and more than fulfilled its role.

The dream team defeated Angola in their first game 116-48 and faced the talented Croatia of Drazen Petrović and Toni Kukoc, where they made a strong defense to leave the match 103-70. Then they defeated Germany (111-68) and Brazil (127-83).

“They are our references, the ones we saw on television”

Their last game in the group stage was against the local team, a Spanish team at that lived “an oasis” in a tough championship after losing against Angola -the Angolazo- when facing off against the North American team.

“It was an oasis within the championship. Even though we lost by 41 (81-122), It was a great experience and I think that day we played well.”remembered Rafael Jofresaone of the members of that team led by Antonio Díaz Miguel, on the 25th anniversary of the historic event, which was on August 2, the exact day the game was played, 30 years old.

In the Spanish team, consisting of Jordi Villacampa, Pepe Arcega, ‘Chechu’ Biriukov, Rafa Jofresa, Andrés Jiménez, Santiago Aldama, Tomàs Jofresa, Javier Fernández, Alberto Herreros, Juan Antonio Orenga, Quique Andreu and Juan Antonio San Epifanio ‘Epi’They remember that fight.

“This is a historic moment”‘Epi’, who lived through those Games recalled the experience of being the last relay of the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony, but was unable to play a minute against the US team due to injury, where he had already competed in an Olympic. Los Angeles 84 final event.

“The team there are three players who mark a season in NBA basketball, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and ‘Magic’ Johnson. They are with other exceptional players,” added Epi.

Along with his captain was the then small forward Jordi Villacampathe author of the first basket of that game. “They were our references, the ones we saw on television,” Pointed out by the former player and former president of Joventut de Badalona.

Tomas Jofresa, one of the youngest in that group, remembers how the expectation generated by that Dream Team lived up to even the other teams during training.

“All the teams trained on the side courts of the Palau Olímpic in Badalona, ​​except for the ‘Dream Team’ who did it on the central court. I remember the twelve of the group looking through the gaps in the fence like children kids how the ‘Dream Team’ trained. I have a very special memory,” he recalled

Another of the grounds, Pepe Arcegathe feeling of having idols in front of you is confirmed. “It’s an experience, having your idols in front of you, play against them and defend them. It’s a dream”, pointed out the former player of CAI Zaragoza.

A picture for history

The fight started at a picture of the Spanish and American teamsamong the coaching staff, something that did not happen to any other team the American team faced, out of respect for the host team and as a show of courage after the defeat suffered against Angola.

The start was fast, with Villacampa’s recovery and internship for 2-0, another steal for Herreros basket and Karl Malone’s basket to start America’s dominance, which was 30 points at halftime (35-65), with an amazing Michael Jordan’s amazing personal move before closing.

“What I admired most about that team the unity and humility they showed, in addition to speed in the execution of movements. In a second and a half after the rebound, they attacked”, recalls Rafael Jofresawhich maintains a good sense of the Spanish performance in that rivalry.

Villacampa shared this, recalling a good collective game in that match, where he was the second highest scorer of Espanyol, with 15 points, behind Andrés Jiménez’s 23 insiders. He was part of that starting quintet Quique Andreuwho chose to attend that meeting “like a normal fight.”

“It was the most emblematic game, but I came out to defend them like normal players. Over time I see those videos and I get emotional who played against the Dream Team”, recalled Andreu, who had the responsibility of defending David Robinson and then Karl Malone.

“I defended Robinson and they changed him. I thought ‘he hasn’t made me a suit and they changed it’. Then Karl Malone elbowed me and I was a few days with a black eye, but proud“, recalls the then Zaragoza player, who would later go to Barcelona.

Defend Jordan, but carefully

Like Andreu, many Spanish players vividly remember who they defended that night: Tomàs Jofresa with ‘Scottie’ Pippen, ‘Chechu’ Biriukov with Chris Mullin, or Pepe Arcega with Michael Jordan.

“All I could think about was not to hurt him, because if I hurt him it would be in all the newspapers in the world”Arcega joked.

After the break, another of the great idols of the American team joined the party: Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, who experienced physical discomfort in recent days. I like it too Larry Birdwho finished with 14 points in his locker, same as Patrick Ewing, but less than 20 of Charles Barkley.

With the final 81-122 and Michael Jordan talking to the exit with Spanish coach Antonio Díaz Miguel, Spain and the United States closed out the group stagea previous step for American gold, which they would not face Spain again in an Olympic tournament until Athens 2004with 94-102 for the Americans in the quarterfinals that will be the start of two finals in Beijing and London, where Spain will soon snatch the gold from them.

“We have improved a lot in all these years, our physique is compatible with them, we have also done it in the fast game and they learned from our team’s game,” summed up Epi, the captain of that team that faced the Dream Team, a team for history that left an indelible mark 30 years ago.