Spain's Men's Basketball Team Faces Setback in Eurobasket Preparations
Spain's men's basketball team begins Eurobasket preparations with a disappointing loss to Portugal.
Key Points
- • Spain's men's basketball team lost 74-76 to Portugal in an exhibition match.
- • Strong start with a 26-10 lead, but faltered in the second half.
- • Team struggles with consistency and fatigue amid physical training.
- • Spain 'B' defeated the Czech Republic 80-75, showcasing promising new talent.
In a troubling start to their preparations for the Eurobasket tournament, the Spanish men's basketball team suffered a 74-76 defeat against Portugal in an exhibition match held in Málaga. The team, guided by coach Sergio Scariolo, began the game strong, leading 26-10 after the first quarter. However, their performance declined sharply in the second half, plagued by issues with shooting accuracy and defensive intensity.
Key players such as Willy and Juancho Hernangómez showed moments of promise, but overall the team struggled with cohesion, possibly impacted by fatigue from rigorous training. This loss marks a significant concern for the team as they aim to improve before the Eurobasket tournament begins on August 28, where they will face Georgia in their opening match.
In a contrasting performance, Spain 'B', featuring younger talents who recently triumphed at the U19 World Championship, managed to secure an 80-75 victory over the Czech Republic, with Baba Miller standing out by scoring 17 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
Looking forward, the main squad will face the Czech Republic again in their next exhibition match, seeking to refine their gameplay and build momentum ahead of the tournament. The recent loss, however, serves as a wake-up call as Spain grapples with maintaining consistency and building on their early lead in games.