“It’s not really a new title and, probably, it can’t be maintained for too long, but it is something so unique, prestigious and historic that I feel tremendously proud of all those who, from the U12 to the Absolute, have contributed to it.” These words, shared by Sergio ScarioloSpanish basketball coach, through social networks, valued the latest feat of Spain in this sport.
Able to shine and win medals in all international competitions, whether with or without their best players, the Spanish selection For the first time in history, he has placed himself at the top of the FIBA men’s world rankings, ahead of the all-powerful team from the United States.
A defeat by the North Americans against Brazil last week, together with the good work of the team led by the Italian coach in the fifth qualifying window for the World Cup, in which they added two victories, have made overtaking possible, placing Spain in the first place in the table with 758.6 points. Behind are the United States with 757.7, Australia (740.3) and Argentina (734.3). The prestigious ‘top 10’ is completed by all its European rivals: France, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece and Italy.
Leading this world ranking is the latest milestone for a team that is currently the current world champion, after the title won in 2019 in Beijing, and Europe, with the surprising victory last summer in Berlin. In addition, they have qualified for the 2023 World Cup, with a balance of 9 games won in 10 games.
Symbolic but of great importance
The president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), Jorge Garbajosa, has stated that November 18, 2022 “is already a date that will remain in the memory” of all those who love basketball. “I wanted to share all the happiness with you and thank all the people and institutions that have been working for many years,” he added.
The president of the FEB recalled the selection of the Los Angeles’84 Olympic Games, the ‘golden juniors’ and ‘everything that came after’. «The selection of the windows, the heroes of the last Eurobasket, but I also want to remember all those clubs, big and small, coaches, referees, Autonomous Federations that work so hard every day so that Spain has this privileged position. To all the coaches who have gone through the national team, especially the current one, Sergio Scariolo, the captain of this team that has given us so much success in Spanish basketball,” he added.
Garbajosa pointed out that it is only a “symbolic title”, but that it has “great importance” for the Federation, since “we are going to face the year of the Centenary from the first position in the world ranking”.
It’s not exactly a new title and it probably can’t be maintained for too long, but it’s something so unique, prestigious and historic that I feel tremendously proud of everyone who, from the U12 to the Absolute, have contributed to it. #LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/pYPrgimea5
— Sergio Scariolo (@sergioscariolo) November 18, 2022
For his part, the national coach, Sergio Scariolo, used social networks to highlight this feat achieved by Spanish basketball, describing it as “unique, prestigious and historic”, while confessing his pride in all the levels involved, from the teams categories below the absolute selection.
A great effort that has served to defeat, for the first time, the United States national team, always the team to beat at the national team level.
