European Champion
The under-18 basketball team has been proclaimed champion of Europe by defeating the host Turkey in an exciting match (61-68), and endorsed the great summer full of successes of Spanish basketball, which has won five medals so far, with last night three gold.
Spain has known how to adapt to the inevitable style of the other finalist, the host Turkey, uncomfortable for any rival and with difficulty to get the rhythm. On several occasions, they have reached a +14 advantage and have overcome the tense last three minutes with outstanding results, with the score more even thanks to several refereeing decisions that have favored the Turks.
It was difficult to open the scoring, almost three minutes without a basket until Villar scored the first. Theirs have been the first 7 points of Spain, which has been placed ahead from that very moment. Two balls recovered practically in a few seconds have opened the result (13-7, minute 6) with the giant Yigitoglu well controlled by Almansa and success in attack, sealed by a second triple by Villar (18-7, minute 7). The Turks have reacted, they have not lost face of the game, but despite a partial 0-7 (18-14, minute 8) at no time have they given a feeling of balancing the duel. Four consecutive points from Almansa have closed the first quarter with a loose 22-14.
In the second quarter Turkey has toughened its defense, it has cost Spain to score, and the score has narrowed to a minimum 24-21 (minute 13) that have broken three free throws by Cebrián. With a triple by Moreno and a penetration by Luis García, Spain has surpassed its maximum advantage (36-24, minute 17) before giving up another 0-7 run. At the break, a more even score (36-31) but without giving up Spanish control of the match.
After the break, Villar and Yitzoglu picked up fouls very quickly. Turkish hardness has increased but Spain has not taken advantage of the ‘bonus’. Even so, he has remained authoritative with the score in his favor (45-33, minute 27). A ball recovered by Cebrián and a tap by Iglesias in another counterattack, has taken it to a maximum of 49-35 (minute 29), and the last ten minutes have reached a relatively comfortable 51-39.
Turkey started the last quarter betting on a zone defense that made the Spanish attack uncomfortable. Only 3 points in 5 minutes, and from free throws. All in all, the first basket at stake, by Almansa, kept Spain dominating (56-46, minute 35) until various refereeing decisions favored Turkey and led to a 56-51 score with 3 minutes to go. Spain has solved them safely, and a spectacular triple by Villar (63-55, minute 39) has made the last Turkish efforts useless.
Rafael Villar (20 points and 5 assists) and Izan Almansa (14 points and 15 rebounds) have led a victory and a more than deserved medal. Almansa, MVP last July in the U17 World Cup held in Andalusia, also won the most valuable player trophy in the U18 European Championship.
