The Spanish basketball team lost this Thursday, in extra time, against Canada from 80-85 in the first game of the Ciudad de Granada tournament, in their penultimate preparatory game for the World Cup in Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The team, led by Sergio Scariolo, held their own but failed to defeat a Canadian team led by Spanish coach Jordi Fernández, who, with exuberant physiques and multiple NBA players in their ranks, showed in the Andalusian city that they can compete at the Asian Event, which was well received all aspiring athletes struggling to be part of the Twelve finalists selected for the World ChampionshipScariolo left this time without calling Samu Saiz, Alex Abrines, or Jaime Pradilla, while coming back from their physical problems and showing at a good level, Sergio Lulully and Usman Garuba, although the first played very little.
Spain didn’t start well (4-10, min. 3) and for most of the first quarter were unable to stop the strong Canadian attack, which caused damage both inside and through individual attacks from some of their stars. Scariolo’s men scored with consistent regularity but were unable to close their own basket, which was beaten by RJ Barret (10-16, min. 6, with 10 points from the Canadian forward) from the start. Shai Alexander took over the goal for the visitors to keep his team in the lead (16-24, min. 9 with 8 points, almost followed by the point guard). Spain came close on the results list thanks to the contributions of those who returned to action in Granada Sergio Llull and Usman Garuba are the first to score points when you need them most, and the linchpin gives order in both areas. Just a few minutes were enough for both of them to prove their involvement in Spain.
A three-pointer on the buzzer allowed Canada to win the first quarter by 21-27, but the trend had changed and was confirmed once Act Two began, with an 8-1 run capped by a three-pointer from Victor, who became Claver, ensuring that the national team takes over the striker for the first time (29-28, 13th minute). The difference between that first quarter and the second was basically in Scariolo’s. They had to work behind and defend, as you best know, despite Canada’s seven offensive rebounds at halftime.
The electronic balance was maintained in the five minutes before the break (38:38, 18th minute), with as much rotation and testing from both teams as one could expect in a World Cup pre-season game. A little Arreón from Spain in the blink of an eye before the break (6-0 run), which saw Juancho Hernagómez scrape a few balls into the opposition’s basket and score from a rebound (Spain leading at half-time with a dominance in catches and nine attacks) allowed that The Spanish side reached the break four points clear (44-40).
At the beginning of the second half, it was difficult for both teams to score as there were more turnovers than precise attacks (48:44, 24 minutes after a very weak 4:4 in almost four minutes). The drought was particularly acute in Spain, which dominated again after a 2:12 run (50:53, 27th minute). Santi Aldama, who exudes class in almost every action, came to the rescue, and Rudy Fernandez, whatever is there, enabled Spain to take the lead on the scoreboard in the last ten minutes (56-55).
The balance was maintained in the final set, with both teams being clearer in defense than attack, until Juancho Hernangómez led the local lead (71-67, min. 37), which was well neutralized by Canadian Kelly Olynyk (71-71). became. Both teams had multiple attacks at 73-73 to prevent an overtime that came before both teams’ general errors.
In overtime, Spain continued to miss attacks with some of their most crucial players on the bench, and Canada were correct up to the score of 0-7 (73-80, 43 minutes), which was already insurmountable for the national team, which tried until the end with little aim.
