23 years after the gold they conquered in Lisboa los Pau Gasol, Navarro and company, another generation, that of 2005, rekindled the illusions of basketball fans by hanging the silver medal in the Under 17 World Cup that has been disputed these days in Malaga. The new future Spanish stars, under the orders of the coach Javier Zamorahave signed a spectacular championship, reaching the final, in which they fell to the almighty selection of USA (67-79). Nothing to blame, however, for this new breed of young talents, who have shown that they have a bright future ahead of them as soon as they find the opportunities to show it.
In the coming years, we will hear, without any doubt, of Candidate Mara, a boy of 2.21 tall who has signed authentic recitals. Some NBA scouts say that a center with that vision of the game had not been seen since Nikola Jokicthe new NBA MVP, and that comparison serves to reflect the talent of this player of the Casademont Zaragoza.
Izan Almansa, power forward of the Spanish men’s team, controlling a ball in the final against the United States
It is not the only name that fans will hear in a few years. there is also iI will Almansawho militates in Overtime Elite, an academy from the United States, a powerful power forward with a presence on both sides of the court, chosen as the best player (MVP) of the tournament. EITHER Hugo Gonzalez, listening to the Real Madrid, Lucas Langaritalistening to the Casademont ZaragozaSerg of Larreabase of Valencia Basket, Lucas Marí, listening to the Valencia Basket, Álvaro Folgueiraspower forward Unicaja Malagao Conrad Martinezbase of Youth of Badalona, to name the most prominent. This is a generation with a good number of very good looking players.
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The silver medal is the result of their talent, but also their ability to function as a true team. They have suffered two defeats, on the first day against Lithuania and in the final against USA, and they have added five victories. Against the USA team, spain managed to go ahead during the first part, in which he had a maximum lead of eight points (25-17), but in the third quarter he ran out of gas (partial 13-29) against a physically superior rival who based their victory in a suffocating defensive pressure that caused many lost balls and counterattacks conceded to the Spanish team.
The generation of 2005, finally, hangs the silver medal, the first of spain in a U17 World Cup, a metal that draws a brilliant future.
DATASHEET
Spain – United States 67-79
67- España (20+18+13+16): Conrad (9), Hugo González (16), Langarita (6), Folgueiras (3), Almansa (9) -starting quintet- Aday Mara (16), Marí ( 6), Vicente (0) De Larrea (2), Vidarte (0), Barberá (0), Delicado (0).
79- United States (13+20+29+17): Castillo (12), Holland (13), Peat (3), Steward (10), Wagner (0) -starting quintet- Flagg (10), Fears JR ( 17), Fland (3), Jackson (0), Knox (5), Newell (0), Evans (0).
Referees: Gatis Salins (Latvia), Julio Cesar Anaya (Panama) and Kerem Baki (Turkey).
Incidents: Final of the FIBA Under-17 World Cup held at the Martín Carpena (Málaga).
