With the classification for the Eurobasket in the pocket, Spain took Riga to play an inconsequential match and received a lesson at the hands of a much more seasoned and successful team. As Sergio Scariolo said, the outcome wasn’t the priority, but rather looking towards the future and providing opportunities for the young players to grow. Learning, sometimes, can be a tough pill to swallow.
Spain, who has lost the last three games against Latvia, managed to resist halfway through the last period. However, being inferior and never quite matching the local team’s intensity, allowed by the referees, they didn’t lose their composure until they received a 14-1 partial that led to a painful 23-point difference. The team had opportunities to narrow the score when the disadvantage was around a dozen, but they squandered them, and the numbers didn’t forgive. Rodions Kurucs, a player for UCAM Murcia, was particularly impressive, scoring 28 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The contrast in external success was striking, with Latvia making 14/30 in triples, some of which came after suffering good defenses. Spain, on the other hand, ended with 5/19. The 21 losses also weighed heavily, with two injuries that ultimately proved decisive.
Yusta stands out again in the windows
Yusta was a highlight, with his external success putting Spain ahead at the start. The hero of the windows, after his two great performances against Slovakia, ended with 15 points. The best news was the premiere of Hugo González, who showed no complexes and pulled off his physical abilities, scoring 11 points and catching six rebounds in 17 minutes on the track. He also placed a cap and didn’t back down when faced with another challenge. In the next action, he consumed an entrance to the basket. Guillem Ferrando debuted with less prominence.
Another notable player, Mario Saint-Supery, played a lot, although he was inaccurate in the direction. Izan Almansa was barely on the track for two minutes due to stomach problems. Between the two young players, there are five international games, and many more will come in their careers. They are part of the future of the selection, and matches like this, despite the defeat, will help them grow.
The selection will return to Spain to close the windows this Sunday against Belgium in León. The goal is to continue growing and end the group with the same number of victories as defeats, currently standing at 2-3. It will be the last game before the European champion begins to prepare for the defense of the title achieved in 2022.
Technical file
Latvia won 83-66, with Rodions Kurucs leading the team with 28 points. The Spanish team was led by Yusta with 15 points, followed by Hugo González with 11 points. The referees for the game were Wojciech Liszka, Mihkel Männiste, and Ivor Matejak, with no exclusions. The match was played at the Riga Arena in Riga in front of 11,135 spectators.
