The Spanish steamroller is already in the semifinals of the World Cup

Twenty-four years ago a generation of players went down in the history of Spanish basketball as the golden juniors, winning the U-19 World Cup in Lisbon after defeating the USA in the final. On Sunday the feat can be repeated. Despite the great youth work that the FEB does year after year and the good results that summers usually provide us with the lower categories, It is difficult to remember a team that demonstrated such superiority before all the rivals he faces. This Spanish team, which he combines technique and physique in an outstanding way, he seems capable of anything. Even winning in a hypothetical final to an American team that in this tournament is not showing itself to be so superior. But before that, tomorrow you have to play some semifinals that you deserve to reach after sweeping Argentina in the quarterfinals (85-47).

So what the match did not start off well at all. The first play, a steal by Sediq Garuba a second after the initial jump and an easy basket, suggested a walk. Nothing could be further from the truth in the first part. Argentina showed its identity signsthose that are passed from generation to generation: fight, fight, never give up and take the games to the mud when they know they are inferior. Spain began to lose more balls than expected, to miss all the triples they shot (0/10 start), which facilitated the Argentine defense. And finally, in the second quarter, when the Spaniards began to relax behind, Argentina took advantage of it to get within 4 points (25-21 at 3:24 of the break). Very good minutes then from the former Estudiantes player Santiago Trouet, who has gone to the NCAA and who finished the match as the most outstanding of the Argentines, with 7 points and 6 rebounds.

But just before the break Baba Miller made his first triple of the party (Lucas Langarita had opened the ban from long distance two minutes before) and the first since Spain’s debut. That basket, that put the 37-25 with which both teams went to the locker room, it was the turning point. From there the Spanish steamroller started and there was no way to stop it. With the beginning of the third quarter the best Spain was seen: full-court pressure at the American stylecarousel of robberies (Garuba’s ability in this aspect is impressive) and final explosion of Baba Millerthe former Madrid player, who is going to play his second year at Florida State University and who used his repertoire to show why he sounds strong for next year’s NBA draft. He finished with 18 points, 3/5 on 3-pointers, 9 rebounds and a PIR of 25 in 23 minutes. That was one of the great news of the game, the time that the players with the most minutes load were usually on court. He and Izan Almansa, the Spanish Twin Towers, reached the top with 23. Almansa, the most valued player of the tournament so far, made a real carnage under the Argentine basket in the first half, grabbing 6 offensive rebounds. Such was the superiority in the rejections that Spain finished with more offensive rebounds (21) than defensive Argentina (20).

The second part allowed other players who don’t usually make the headlines to shine, such as the starting outsiders Rafa Villar (6 points and 4 rebounds) and Jordi Rodríguez (15 points), the luxury substitute that is Langarita (14 points, 6 rebounds , 3/5 in triples and +30 with him on court, the best of the game in this statistic), or some less common like center Victor Onuetu (4+4 in 11 minutes) and shooting guard and defensive specialist Isaac Nogués. In summary, a broad squad that goes beyond its stars and that aims very high in this World Cup. The next step, already in the fight for the medals, will be tomorrow against the winner of Canada-Turkey.