MADRID, 12 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s wheelchair basketball team debuted its victory tally at the World Cup that is taking place in Dubai after winning this Monday 70-65 against a level rival like Canada, a success that fuels their chances of getting into the quarter finals.
In their third match in three days, Spain was able to show their competitive ability against the North American team, five times world champion and triple Paralympic champion, and who, although they have not been among the best for a long time, arrived more rested, with a win against Brazil and as a good test for Franck Belen’s team.
And after having Great Britain on the ropes (48-51) and falling clearly against China (66-49), the Spanish were able to take this duel and load up their morale ahead of the matches against Australia, without respite already this Tuesday , and Brazil, with the aim of overcoming the group stage.
It was an extremely even match, in which the two teams reached the final ten minutes even on the score (52-52) after having drawn in the three previous sets (18-18, 14-14 and 20-20). And in the decisive quarter and although with less than five minutes to go everything was still undecided (60-60), Spain pressed on defense to win.
The national team was led by its captain Sonia Ruiz, author of a ‘double-double’ with 18 points and 12 assists, and who was well accompanied by Beatriz Zudaire (16), Isabel López (15 and 10 rebounds) and Vicky Alonso ( 13).