Spain opened its qualifying campaign for the 2027 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket with a narrow 73-71 victory over the Czech Republic in Oviedo.
A Tense Start at the Palacio de los Deportes
The match at the Palacio de los Deportes began with a minute of silence to honor Juan José Rodríguez, a police officer who died earlier that day in a nearby incident.
Despite the somber atmosphere, more than 4,500 fans attended to support the national team. The crowd focused much of its attention on local star Iyana Martín, who was honored at halftime with the gold insignia of the Basketball Federation of the Principality of Asturias.
Miguel Méndez fielded an opening lineup of Iyana Martín, Maite Cazorla, Helena Pueyo, Paula Ginzo, and Raquel Carrera. The contest remained competitive from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets in a 7-8 game by the third minute.
The Czech Republic utilized a shifting zone defense that initially disrupted Spain’s offensive flow, but a late 9-0 run by the home side closed the first quarter with Spain leading 20-11.
Czech Republic Gains Momentum Against Spain
The Czech Republic regained momentum in the second quarter by exploiting Spain’s perimeter defense. A three-pointer from Holesinka narrowed the gap to 26-22, forcing a timeout from Méndez. While Martín struggled with early errors, contributions from Raquel Carrera against the zone and defensive intensity from Andrea Vilaró helped maintain a slim lead. Spain entered the halftime break ahead 43-36.
The second half saw the Czech Republic continue to press, fueled by the offensive output of the duo of Malikova and Holesinka. The visitors remained within striking distance, even connecting on a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to end a possession, keeping the score at 50-45. Spain’s offense slowed significantly in the third quarter, managing only 14 points, and the teams entered the final period tied at 53.
Closing the Match in the Final Minutes
The Czech Republic surged ahead early in the fourth quarter, establishing a 59-64 lead with seven minutes remaining behind five consecutive points from Holesinka. Facing a potential opening loss, Spain relied on a late-game surge from Iyana Martín. She connected on a three-pointer to close the deficit to 66-67, effectively saving the team from falling further behind.
With Spain trailing 67-71 and less than two minutes on the clock, the offense struggled to find rhythm until a decisive sequence unfolded. Martín added four critical points, followed by a basket from María Araújo, to reclaim the lead at 73-71. The final defensive stands held firm, securing a victory in what proved to be a physically and mentally demanding test for the Spanish squad.
Spain Secures Early Advantage in EuroBasket Femenino 2027 Qualification
This match opened the qualification path for the EuroBasket Femenino 2027 of Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania. The win, secured in the final minutes of a tightly contested Group J matchup, provides the Spanish side with an early advantage in the qualification process.
