MADRID, 15 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Women’s Basketball World Championship in the under-19 category gets underway in the Community of Madrid, with Alcalá de Henares and Torrejón de Ardoz as venues for the group stage and with the capital’s WiZink Center as the focus of the qualifiers from the quarterfinals from the end until the defining match for the title, which will be on July 23.
The last time that Madrid hosted an international training tournament was in 2007, with the celebration of the men’s European Championship in the under-18 category. In this sense, in addition, the WiZink Center will witness the global premiere of its LED track.
The ‘Power Ranking’ of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which concerns its projection for each team, places Spain in second place for this U-19 Women’s World Cup. Only the United States team surpasses the players trained by Bernat Canut, leaving Australia in third position.
In the initial phase, the coincidence of the French team with the Spanish and Australians turns their Group A into the so-called group of death. Not surprisingly, the French are fifth in the FIBA ’Power Ranking’; The fourth team in contention is Argentina, which looks like the best South American team.
Spain will debut this Saturday (8:15 pm), against Australia, at the Los Espartales Sports Complex in Alcalá. 24 hours later, they will play against France on the same stage; and, after a day off, Canut’s pupils will close the group stage next Tuesday (8:45 pm) against Argentina at the Jorge Garbajosa Pabellón in Torrejona.
On the horizon for the Spanish women, the generation born in 2004 will experience another revenge after their performance in the European Under-16 Championship was cut short due to the covid pandemic; Last year, they made their debut in international competition, achieving a valuable silver medal in the European Under-18 Championship, played in Turkey.
As if playing in front of their fans and looking for the podium were not enough incentives, the team led by Canut faces this World Cup after completing a great preparation. They signed a 6-1 balance, losing only to the United States in the last duel prior to this contest.
The Spanish squad is made up of guards Deva Bermejo, Marina Aviñoa and Iyana Martín (2006); the rest of the exteriors, versatile, are Elena Buenavida, Alicia Florez, Elena Moreno, Inés Noguero and Irene Broncano; and inside will be Carla Brito, Daniela Abies, Awa Fam (2006) and Ariadna Termis (2005).
The 16 participating teams will be divided into four groups of four. Said leagues will apply a system of all against all, whose resolution will dictate the order to play the round of 16; from there, it will be a single party. Group A will meet Group B (1st vs. 4th, 2nd vs. 3rd), just as Group C will meet Group D.