The Spanish basketball team beat Slovakia (72-76) This Friday in a disastrous match with a happy ending in victory mode, vital after two defeats, on the third day of the Eurobasket 2025 qualifying phase, after two extensions and a miracle from Santi Yusta (21 points) to avoid a defeat that seemed already written.
Sergio Scariolo’s men fulfilled their objective of stopping the bleeding and breaking the record of victories at the TIPOS Aréna in Bratislava. Now, the path of the current champion is smoothed a little within Group C, also thanks to the defeat of Belgium, and with another duel against Slovakia on Monday but at home, in Ourense.
However, the national team’s match bordered on the grotesquea Spain of debutants, Sergio de Larrea, Mario Saint-Supery and Izan Almansa, who did not play a leading role in the tight outcome. The European champion, without NBA or Euroleague players, led 25-38 at halftime, with the game controlled a priori, but a regrettable second half gave life to a Slovakia who had it in his hand twice.
Scariolo’s team started well, with a great start from Fran Guerra, although already with a significant deficit in the triple (9 of 31 at the end). Yet, the defense did a good job and in the second quarter the progression continued until achieving an important income. He total control of the rebound On the part of Spain it gave them more options to alleviate the lack of success with a quintet of debutants.
La Familia worked with Almansa, MVP of the last lower category tournaments, and Miquel Salvó’s triples arrived. Spain found continuity and He went to the locker room with good feelings, which flew with his return. The uncontrolled play of Mario Ihring, the streak of Vladimír Brodziansky, who finished with 23 points, and the giant Michael Fusek changed the script.
Scariolo’s team remained at 10 points in the third quarter and 11 in the last before 10,000 fans who were beginning to believe in a historic night. Carlos Alocén interrupted the local dynamic, but four minutes from the end, Slovakia took the lead for the first time. Alberto Díaz had some defense, but The disaster seemed inevitable, with Spain missing free throws and from everywhere.
The last one was for the Slovaks, with Brodziansky on the line to win the match, but he missed the second. Spain claimed a foul in the other ring almost with the final horn and, In extra time, the champion continued with a very low playing profilewith the ‘veterans’ Yusta, Alocén, Guerra, Alberto or Paulí. Simon Krajcovic also made the Slovaks dream (19 points).
A triple from Yusta tightened what seemed lost (66-64) and a robbery and another triple from Madrid in the last tenth worked the miracle. Spain enjoyed another extra time that was already too much for a Slovakia that will long regret the lost opportunity to beat a European champion. Scariolo’s men failed but at least they secured vital rebounds to avoid another defeat against a Slovakia with less rotation and more worn out at the end.
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