MADRID, 24 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish U-20 men’s basketball team was proclaimed European champion this Sunday with victory (61-69) against Lithuania in the final of the tournament held in Podgorica, the third title for Spain in this category.
The last step was the most complicated for a team that left untouched, full of victories until the final. A game of tough defenses, equality and a lot of tension decided the gold for Spain, who also carried the weight of the match.
Joaquín Prado’s team got stuck in the third quarter, but brought the intensity back to the Lithuanians in the last set. Spain left Lithuania to six points in the last 10 minutes, the moment of truth where Spanish basketball added a new success.
Rubén Domínguez (17 points) carried the scoring weight and Juan Núñez, named MVP, took the reins in the hot moments. Spain was sending to rest (37-42), but the third quarter left a 55-55 with Butka being the best until that moment.
The Spanish team left in the light six from the end (55-62), but a four-minute gap without scoring pressed it again. The drought was cut by a poster by Allen and later, a penetration by Núñez to start savoring the gold (61-66).
With a minute and a half to go, the one who had a problem to score was Lithuania, without finding a solution, while the men’s U-20 Spain, with rebounds and accuracy, added the third continental gold of the category in their eighth final.