MADRID, 10 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s basketball team lost (77-65) this Saturday against Hungary at the Novomatic Arena in Sopron, a second friendly against the Magyar team in 24 hours, again demanding and which this time fell to the local side, in the first defeat of Spain with Miguel Méndez in 16 new era games.
The four-time champion missed the last rehearsal prior to the start of the Eurobasket in Israel and Slovenia, with her debut on Thursday 15 against Latvia in Group A, with a very low accuracy (16/45 in shots from two) and a defense that did not stopped the Hungarians.
Méndez’s men, after five victories in the preparation tour, began commanding, more in tune after the victory on Friday almost on the horn with a tray from Alba Torrens. However, Hungary reacted and was amassing a good income. The third quarter was the definitive one, a 25-12, hitting from the line of three the locals, for a 60-48 facing the last quarter.
Méndez’s team did not accept the challenge of coming back from those 12 points and they will have to recover their best version for the start of the Eurobasket, essential to avoid a more complicated path as happened to the team in the 2021 continental event. Spain left its worst game at the level of success and fluidity, with twice as many losses as his rival and that bad shooting percentage.
Leo Rodríguez and Raquel Carrera were the highlights of a defeat that Méndez will take advantage of, his first as coach in 16 games, to finish polishing a team with different objectives: first Latvia, have a good group stage, tie the Pre-Olympic and, once there, think about the medals.