Those of Miguel Méndez make up for their elimination in 2021 and return to the European aristocracy
MADRID, 24 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s basketball team suffered this Saturday to beat the Hungarian team 69-60, with the outstanding role of forward Alba Torrens, and thus qualified for the Eurobasket final, the outcome of which is being played in Ljubljana (Slovenia), so now he will seek the fifth continental title in his history.
At the Arena Stozice in the Slovenian capital, the team coached by Miguel Méndez took a particular revenge and showed its obvious improvement in this Eurobasket. After Hungary defeated them in the last previous friendly, and following a poor debut in the tournament against Latvia, the Spanish had raised some doubts about their performance.
But their subsequent victories against Montenegro, Greece and Germany boosted morale and also provided the opportunity to meet the Hungarians again. And there Torrens emerged, the watchword of this team, to open the scoring with a premonitory triple. He chained 10 points to the Balearic forward, being the great focus in attack.
On the part of the Magyar team, it was the center Cyesha Goree who responded with success in front of the hoop. Despite her efforts, Méndez’s pupils were very intense in defense and showed few gaps for the rest of the opponents. The accumulated partial of the first quarter (18-14) then worried the coach of Hungary, Norbert Szekely.
A minute and a half into the second quarter had elapsed when Szekely called a timeout, trailing 22-16. Despite the wake-up call, his players did not find a way to counteract the foreign power of Spain. Not in vain, Maite Cazorla opened her points box with a three-pointer to make it 30-18, with 4:51 remaining at halftime.
Next, Torrens continued inspired with a triple from the corner (33-20); 4/4 for her at that time from the 6.75 meter line. Cazorla (36-20) also joined the festival of long shots, trying to break the match. With Goree without much gunpowder in offensive tasks, guard Agnes Studer took over.
She spurred Hungary to reduce their deficit, from 38-22 to 38-28 with which they reached the interval. Upon returning from the locker room, she missed the mark on both teams for two minutes. Cazorla broke that streak, with two free throws, but the atmosphere was different and Méndez’s men accused him.
Little by little, without excessive fluidity although with skill in ‘painting’, the Magyar team was tightening the figures. A triple by Veronika Kányási made it 50-44 and then two free throws by Bernadett Határ finished off the 30th minute at 50-46. In fact, the best moments of the Central Europeans had always come with Határ on the track.
SPAIN HOLDS ITS NERVES
The fourth period pointed, in this way, to an outcome of many nerves. The Spanish center Laura Gil reflected it, missing a free throw, followed by a layup from Aliz Varga to make it 51-48. Tired defense, attack without ideas and Méndez guessing which pieces to move, that’s how Spain dealt with its rival’s stakes.
This rare dynamic was interrupted by a three-pointer from Torrens, 6:36 from the end, to make it 56-48 to the electronics of the pavilion. However, Szekely’s did not give up in their goal of coming back. A three-point basket made by Virag Kiss, after capturing an offensive rebound, did damage to the rojigualda team.
The score was 56-53 and there were 4:17 left to finish, so Mendez spent time out to rebuild ranks. Regular names in defense appeared in time, such as Raquel Carrera and Queralt Casas, to amend his discreet offensive contribution. A couple of his ball steals, helped by Cazorla, were key to tempering spirits.
Hungary ran out of fuel and the difference in points was already very heavy. Goree in the low post and Studer in the bombilla continued to call the shots, but both missed a bigger choral contribution. The last few bars, with several stops and an ‘instant replay’ included, were agonizing for Hungary.
Despite a triple by Debora Dubei 24 seconds after the final horn, which made it 66-60, two free throws made by Carrera gave Spain enormous calm. On the next attacking possession, Studer was fouled and missed both of his free throws; Gil caught the rebound from his second pitch, to cap off the game.
The 69-60 was sealed with another free kick, by Gil herself, and thanks to that, Spain got a ticket to the final. In this way, Méndez’s team made up for being eliminated in 2021 and returned to the European aristocracy, playing the match for the long-awaited title against the winner of Belgium-France. It will be the sixth final of the Spanish in its history.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 69 – HUNGARY, 60. (38-28, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT:
ESPAÑA: Cazorla (16), Casas (-), Torrens (27), Carrera (8) and Gil (6) –initial quintet–; Domínguez (2), Ouviña (-), Leo Rodríguez (-), Quevedo (-) and Ginzo (10).
HUNGARY: Lelik (4), Dubei (4), Goree (12), Kiss (7), Studer (13) –quinteto initial–; Turk (-), Aho (3), Ruff-Nagy (-), Horváth (2), Kányási (7), Határ (4) and Varga (4).
— PARTIALS: 18-14, 20-14, 12-18 and 19-14.
–REFEREES: Forsberg (DIN), Tomic (CRO) and Männiste (EST). No eliminated.
–PAVILLION: Stozice Arena of Ljubljana (Slovenia).