Spain fell 89-95 to Portugal in Zaragoza during the opening match of the second phase of FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying, a hard-fought contest marked by the senior national team debuts of Aday Mara and Baba Miller. According to reports, the unexpected home loss leaves head coach Chus Mateo’s squad navigating early turbulence in Group I, despite maintaining an overall lead in the standings with five victories and two defeats.
Zaragoza Crowd Welcomes Local Giant Aday Mara
Playing at the Pabellón Príncipe Felipe in Zaragoza, Spain opened with aggressive defensive pressure and early transition points, including a smooth reverse layup by Joel Parra. Four minutes into the first quarter, local favorite Aday Mara checked in for his senior national team debut, replacing Willy Hernangómez after the center sustained a strong blow to the eyelid from Portugal’s Neemias Queta. The home crowd greeted the young center with a resounding ovation. While Mara initially showed some imprecision on the offensive end during his opening minutes, he provided immediate defensive rim protection, later raising the crowd with a thunderous dunk following a feed from Álvaro Cárdenas.
Portugal’s Physicality and Guard Play Punish La Familia
Despite Spain’s energy, shooting struggles plagued the hosts early on, converting just one of their first nine three-point attempts. Portugal established a rugged physical tone and defensive intensity that kept Spanish scorers off balance. Guided by standout performances from Travante Williams—who poured in 22 points—and Neemias Queta, who posted a 22-efficiency rating, the visitors built an early advantage. Head coach Chus Mateo was forced to call a timeout after falling behind 12-19. Although a 15-3 surge fueled by two triples from Darío Brizuela and one from Mario Saint-Supéry briefly put Spain ahead in the second quarter—which also featured the debut of forward Baba Miller—Portugal responded before halftime to reclaim a 41-47 edge.
Late-Game Stretches Secure Historic Victory for Portugal
Spain fought to stay within striking distance through the third quarter, but a 0-7 run by Portugal to open the final period created separation. An errant Spanish offense could not mount a late comeback, and a decisive three-pointer by Ventura with 3:24 remaining sealed the outcome. Álvaro Cárdenas paced Spain with 18 points, while Brizuela added 19, but Portugal—ranked 45th in the FIBA world rankings—secured their first-ever official victory against the Spanish national team. La Familia will look to rebound quickly as the squad travels to Athens to face Greece on Monday at 18:00 local time, with the Greek side playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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