Rudy Fernández burst into tears after the game.
Eurobasket | Spain 100 – 90 Finland
The captain was the great protagonist of the match against Finland and made the team react at half-time and achieve a historic comeback
In tears. This is how yesterday’s match ended for Rudy Fernández against Finland (100-90). I was crying with joy. The entire locker room showed his happiness for reaching the semifinals and fell in love with his captain, the absolute leader of the Spanish team’s victory. The forward could not even move, unable to celebrate a historic comeback with the rest. He joined the huddle formed in the center of the track helped by his teammates. On the way to the locker room, Rudy’s eyes misted up again at the microphones. «Before coming here I said that I trusted this team. It is a moment to remember.” He was also very moved when remembering his father, who died last May of cancer at the age of 66: «For me, this has been a very hard year, because my father is not here and the truth is that he would be enjoyed a lot. I know that from above it is helping me », he said. He also acknowledged that he had put up a good fight at halftime to activate his teammates.
“I was listening to him and it seemed to me that he was even going too far with the tone,” said a Sergio Scariolo delighted with his captain after the game. «After what he has said, I have not had to raise my voice even a decibel. The emotional impact that was needed at that time had already been achieved by him. What happened in the locker room caused a total change on the track. The Balearic rapa dust had an effect and was the beginning of an epic comeback that led to a new semifinal for Spain.
Scariolo explained that Rudy is enjoying himself. «He has never had this specific role in any of his teams and that’s nice. What can you say, he is an incredible player. He is not afraid, he goes to the ground. He looked like he is 18 years old. He played almost 30 minutes against Lithuania and the next day he was on ice ».
«Rudy’s anger has been very good for us. I think he, because of the trust he has in us, knew we could do better. We came out nervous and it was difficult for us, but thanks to him we have woken up and we have had fun on the pitch again. To be ourselves”, affirmed Willy Hernangómez. His brother Juancho, went further, referring to the ball saved in the band by the Balearic, which ended up crashing against the chairs at the foot of the track. “Just seeing the actions he does gives us reason to continue, fight more and believe. It is our example to follow. One of the greatest in all of history.”
