He eurobasketball of Valencia in 2021 was the hardest stick that a generation used to hanging medals has taken summer yes and summer too. Two years after that, the Selection meets again with the aim of confirming that it was only a parenthesis, not a definitive stopand that this new generation of women’s basketball can continue to bring a lot of joy. “The challenge is huge, we come from a summer of not competing officially, but we do prepare for what comes our way. We see new faces and it will be important to reflect on the track the values that have been our hallmark for years”, said Silvia Domínguez at the team’s presentation in Madrid. Miguel Mendezwho took over the reins after the Tokyo Games, has summoned 17 players (Laura Quevedo was not at the presentation because she is playing the final of the French League), who once again unite youth and experience, because the years go by, it is inevitable, and the National Team also changes in its constant regeneration. “I have been following the players for a season and I really want to start; I don’t know if that is good or bad for them… It will be an even championship. We come from a time of change and it is not easy to start over, but we are lucky not to do it from scratch. It is a stage that forces us to be humble, but I know Spanish basketball and this group and next to that humility is also the word ambition “, comments the selector.
After the withdrawal of the eternal Laia Palau, Silvia Domínguez is the captain of a team in which he hopes to be (at last) Alba Torrens. The Mallorcan forward has not played a Eurobasket for six years: she missed the Belgrade event in 2019 due to an injury and two years later, due to COVID, she watched the start of the championship on television from her room in Valencia. “I feel that the illusion of being here has not disappeared in all these years,” says Alba, who, in principle, will attend the Tel Aviv and Ljubljana appointments, although the responsibility of being the team leader has been transferred to another player , mary count. The USK Prague forward will be the external referent of a team that, inside, can raise some more doubts due to the absences. Astou Ndour will not be in the Eurobasket for personal reasons and the National Team has also lost María Araújo and Irati Extarri due to injury (both broke the crusader within a couple of weeks of each other). The one that will be there is Raquel Carrera, brand new MVP of the League final and who, despite being only 22 years old, has become, by full right, the great leader in the paint. Next to her, Laura Gil, already recovered from a serious injury: “I have changed, I have evolved as a player and as a person.” And if Miguel Méndez wants centimeters In the area you could bet on two of the three university students on the team: Lola Pendande (Miami NCAA, 23 years and 1.93) and beautiful Nerea (Georgia Tech, 22 and 1.99). Third, Helena Pueyo (Arizona), it is more difficult to sneak between the twelve, because the base position is one of the best cutlery. The direction of the team, apart from in the hands of Silvia Domínguez, is assured with Cristina Ouviña, Leticia Romero and Maite Cazorla. And since victories are built from defense, there they are Queralt Casas and Andrea Vilaró to squeeze behind. Laura Quevedo was already at the 2021 Eurobasket (replaced Alba Torrens) with Paula Ginzo, almost fixed by the absences in the post of ‘four‘ where another option will be María Eraunnzetamurgil, who made his debut with Spain in the last Window and arrives after having a good season with Estudiantes.
The National Team, dressed in black for its centenary, will play six preparation games, two in the Vigo tournament (against Italy on May 25 and China on May 26), two in the Triangular de Córdoba (on June 2 against Turkey and on June 4, against Belgium) and the double confrontation against Hungary in Sopron (June 9 and 10), just a few days before the Eurobasket premiere, the 12th in a row for a team that in these years has won three gold medals (2013, 2017 and 2019), a silver (2007) and five bronzes (2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2015).
An express championship in Israel and Slovenia
Spain will play the first phase in Tel Aviv together with Latvia (Thursday, June 15, 8:00 p.m.), Montenegro (Friday, June 16, 7:45 p.m.) and Greece (Sunday, June 18, 7:45 p.m.). Being first in the group carries a prize, since I would go directly to the quarterfinals (already in Ljubljana, against the second in C —Slovenia, Germany or Great Britain— or third in D —Turkey or Hungary—) without the round of 16 confrontation (Italy or the Czech Republic, possibly). And, if there are no strange results, I would avoid the two big favorites, France and Belgium, until the final.