The exciting generation of 2005 falls in the U-17 World Cup final against the USA (67-79)
‘Impossible’ is a ceiling that the Juniors de Oro eliminated from the vocabulary of Spanish basketball. Those giants knocked down barriers that once seemed eternal and broadened the horizon for the generations that came after. They are to blame for the fact that the U17 World Cup final against the United States was received with a ‘and why not?’ that for 30 minutes became meat. A dream that was tangible for three quarters, and a silver deserves the brilliance of this new generation (67-79).
Spain commanded during the first three quarters, but ended up falling to a United States that has become intractable in this category: since this World Cup was established in 2010, they have not lost a single game (44-0) and accumulate six medals with this of gold. The value of the boys Javier Zamora was to stand up to a team that had passed the roller in Malaga, which at this moment of uncertain change in the senior team have renewed hope for Spanish basketball for the future.
Beneath the surface, silenced by a pandemic that delayed its debut until this tournament, beats a dream generation that has been presented in society during these two weeks in Malaga. A group of promises barely a year old (and the smallest, Hugo Gonzaleznot even that) when the 80’s generation hit their first big top in Japan.
Hugo González’s mate
These days, Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, FelipeReyes, Jos Manuel Caldern and a generous etcetera share encouragement and advice with them. With Be Almansa, the boy with magnets in his hands; with the Candidate Mara y Lucas Langarita, two more fruits of that exquisite care with which Basket Zaragoza has been taking care of its youth academy. With lvaro Folgueiras. Con Hugo Gonzalez. Names that are well worth keeping in mind. Children who grew up seeing that so many things were possible.
It is not surprising, therefore, the impudence with which Spain came out, all that González, the youngest of the group, showed when he received the counterattack in the first quarter. With the game still tight and an American forward threatening the block on the run, the Real Madrid youth squad launched with more eagerness if he could fit against the rim. The mate made the Martín Carpena rumble and marked the way for Spain to open the first advantages.
It was a mixture of hunger and clear ideas. The ambition with which Almansa y Folgueiras They attacked the offensive rebound. And the clarity with which Spain overcame the pressure at half court from the United States. It is the way in which the Americans so often assert their physical superiority, but that Javier Zamora’s boys successfully negotiated during the first three quarters, until the ‘temperature’ of that intensity became unbearable.
Fears baskets
Until then, with Conrad Martnez At the head, he was overcoming that external pressure to find good options inside, punishing that excess of ambition with which the United States players tried to close the shooting options. Meanwhile, Spain managed to hinder their attack with a good zone defense. Without success in the outside shot, only the incisor David Castillo y Sean Stewart They seem to have the key.
With discipline behind and patience in attack, Spain held on to the wire of the seven point lead until the end of the third quarter, when the United States managed to chain the first success streak in the entire game. With a partial of 1-11 in the final stretch, accentuated with two baskets of Jeremy Fearsthe United States reached an advantage that Spain could no longer close.
those of Javier Zamorawho had just signed two great reactions against Australia and France in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively, fought until the last minute, but neither the growth of Candidate Mara gave to counteract the American acceleration. A deserved win, although marred by some unsportsmanlike gesture from their players at the final whistle. A defeat that does not tarnish the brilliance of this new generation that makes Spanish basketball dream.
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