BarcelonaAlthough this time there were no medals at stake, basketball fans woke up as early as Los Angeles 84 to watch the Spanish team’s game against the United States. The stage, a Saitama Super Arena in which in 2006 the 80s generation touched the ceiling by winning the World Cup, invited to the epic, and the show did not disappoint, at least for a very competitive first half. In the end, however, the American team left Spain out of the fight for medals at the Olympics (81-95).
Pau Gasol did not have his dream farewell. The best Catalan player in history said goodbye to a unique stage with a defeat that does not tarnish an impeccable career, with three Olympic medals. End point to an exciting journey full of success. The pivot was only able to play 6:17 minutes in a very demanding match and was left without scoring, but he said goodbye feeling like a basketball player after two years without being able to compete due to injuries. “It has been my last game with the national team. Now I will have to discuss with my family if it is also the last of my career. But this defeat will not erase my wonderful 20 years and the fact that I was able to be here. “Thank you to everyone for always being there, wholeheartedly,” he said.
The surprise was played by his brother Marc, who announced that the match against the United States was the last with the Spanish team. At 36, five less than his brother Pau (41), the Lakers pivot also folds. “We got off this beautiful attraction we climbed 15 years ago. It’s time, it’s time. I’ve enjoyed this experience for many years. Now it’s time for young people to go up and enjoy it,” he explained.
Ricky Rubio, the player who was not clear about his presence in Tokyo, played a monumental match that we will remember for a lifetime against the American team. His 38 points, a record of a member of the Spanish national team in an Olympic tournament, had no prize against a rival who knew how to achieve his superiority during a very uneven second half.
The first part of the game was very comfortable for the United States, which knew how to build a seven-point difference with very comfortable shots (10-17). Spain started the quarterfinals too soft and the American players took the opportunity to show their talent. The only answer came from a Ricky Rubio who scored 13 of the first 17 points of the Spanish team. The most scoring version of the Masnou base led an 11-2 run that turned the score around (21-19).
The team coached by Sergio Scariolo knew how to exploit the problems of the rival in the rebound to dominate the pace of the game during a second period in which Sergi Llull and Sergio Rodríguez took over from Ricky. The big difference, however, was the Spanish team’s defensive change, which increased its intensity to bring to light the collective shortcomings of the Americans. The solidity in defense of Víctor Claver and, above all, Willy Hernangómez boosted the game of Spain, which came to dominate the scoreboard by 10 points difference (39-29). The accelerated one had answer and in a three and nothing the combined one of the United States had enough to equal the result. In addition, Rudy Fernandez committed his third personal foul before reaching the break (43-43).
The third quarter discouraged Spain, who lost by 16 points (49-65). The American team picked up offensive pace and started scoring regularly from the three-point line. Kevin Durant scored 25 points in the first 24 minutes of the game, a scandal that serves to scale his talent. Despite the offensive avalanche of the United States, the Spanish team managed not to disconnect from the game and take away the competitive pride to reach the last 10 minutes with options for victory (63-69).
With the lesson learned from the defeats against Nigeria, Australia and France, the team coached by Gregg Popovich was able to decipher the tactical traps of the rival and adapt to the FIBA game to ensure victory in a last period in which the Spanish team, with more character than energy, he never gave up. Kevin Durant finished with 29 points and with the feeling that the Olympic adventure is starting to make sense.
The rival of the United States in the semifinals will be the winner of the tie between Australia and Argentina. On the other side of the table, Slovenia eliminated Germany (94-70). The other match is played by France and Italy.
The women’s team, this Wednesday
The Spanish women’s team will start the fight for medals this Wednesday (2pm, TVE and Eurosport) with a quarter-final match against France, a team of a higher physical level. The team coached by Lucas Mondelo remains unbeaten in Tokyo, where it seeks to get rid of the bad taste left by the Eurobasket of Valencia.
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