The Spain that fights in Nis (Serbia) to win the Under-18 Eurobasket is a team full of talent, but it has not yet shown its full potential. It has gone, yes, from less to more in the championship after a weak preparation. In the tournament they remain undefeated after beating Denmark, Greece and Italy in the group stage and then the Czech Republic in the round of 16 and Turkey in the quarterfinals. This Saturday (6:00 p.m., YouTube) they face France in the semifinals, who have won their duels by an average difference of 26.6 points. Nor have the other two semifinalists, Serbia and Germany, lost so far (their meeting is at 20:30).
In this Selection led by Javi Zamora there are several players who stand out for their quality such as Langarita, Saint-Supery, Conrad Martínez… and others who do a great job, such as Folgueiras. Beyond there are two aces, Aday Mara (2.20 m pivot and 18 years old) and Hugo Gonzalez (1.99 forward and only 17 years old), team leaders and almost Eurobasket. The first wants to go to the United States, to UCLA, but maintains a contractual disagreement with Casademont Zaragoza, where he has been trained. ANDThe second will train with the Real Madrid first team and will play matches. The letters of Spain to hang the goldtwo players of great class and a very good reading of the game with a physique for the elite.
Mara is a tactful giant and Hugo one of the most explosive forwards ever in Spanish basketball at his age. The best example, the mate in quarters over the Turkish Demirel, of 2.15. Both average in Nis 23 minutes. Mara makes 15.4 points with 9.4 shots, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 2 assists, watch out for the passes. gonzalezfor his part, he has 14.2 goals (also with 9.4 pitches), 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 recoveries. And a high intensity in each action together with a good ability to generate advantages with the ball. Are two of the five most efficient of the European, the first is Mara (23.6 credits) and the fifth, Hugo (18,4). In the middle, only one survivor of the qualifiers, the Serbian Bogoljub Markovic (22), a piece of power forward of 2.12 from the Mega.