Mendez’s men lost to Belgium in a final that they dominated until the last four minutes
MADRID, 25 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Spanish women’s basketball team lost (58-64) in the fight for Eurobasket 2023 gold against Belgium, a final at the Stozice Arena in Ljubljana that they dominated for 36 minutes and saw the first Belgian title vanish in the last plays.
Those of Miguel Méndez fell bitterly after a perfect job during the first half. Later, Emma Meesseman (24 points) and Kyara Linskens (18 and 15 rebounds) were enough to prevent the fifth gold for a Spain that returns to at least the medals, its eleventh, after falling in the quarterfinals in 2021.
The era of Miguel Méndez seemed blessed and it surely remained so despite not taking the gold, but the title faded bitterly. The Spanish defense did not know how to finish off that plethoric duo and, with everything at stake, there was no success in responding to the final ordeal of the Belgians. In their first final, Belgium lifted the title without complexes or fear against a Spain that wanted to reign again.
Spain dried up the best attack of the tournament and hammered the rival ring with Queralt Casas, Raquel Carrera and Paula Ginzo as outstanding, but it missed the best version of Alba Torrens, seen in the semifinals. The entry of Méndez’s men had double value, for commanding and for lowering the tempers of a Belgium that had just swept France in the semifinals. Torrens was in charge of assuming the first pitches, experience at the service of the team, to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer.
Spain was winning the high-intensity defensive pulse (12-6), stopping Vanloo and Allemand, and they did what they could with Meesseman and Linskens. In addition, the irruption of Casas gave important points to Spain and the rotation was noted as the minutes passed. Good defense and patience in attack kept the lead at 32-24, but the Belgians were finding their weapons.
GOLD VANISHES IN FOUR MINUTES
After the restart, Belgium raised the defensive bar and showed the level that led them to their first continental final. Spain found success outside with Casas and Leo Rodríguez (42-34), but the rebound continued to be Belgian with Linskens. The figure of Meesseman, ultimately chosen MVP of the championship, began to rampage without brake and without a scoring response in the Spanish, the script changed.
Despite Carrera’s struggle, Meesseman pulled out all the stops to put Belgium ahead for the first time four minutes from time (54-55). With water around their necks, Spain looked for Torrens but was left without an answer. Belgium did not hesitate and found a more blurred defense at the decisive moment to make history at the expense of a Spanish team that was left with honey on their lips.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 58 – BELGIUM, 64. (32-25, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
ESPAÑA: Cazorla (3), Casas (14), Torrens (8), Carrera (12) and Gil (4) –initial quintet–; Domínguez (-), Ouviña (-), Leo Rodríguez (7), Quevedo (-) and Ginzo (10).
BELGIUM: Vanloo (13), German (9), Delaere (-), Meesseman (24) and Linskens (18) — starting quintet — Resimont (-), Mununga (-), Serena-Lynn Geldof (-) , Rock (-), Becky Massey (-).
— PARTIALS: 17-13, 15-12, 16-18, 10-21.
–REFEREES: Forsberg, Liszka and Baldini. No eliminated.
–PAVILLION: Stozice Arena of Ljubljana (Slovenia).