Spain closed the first Qualification Window for the 2027 World Cup with a beating of Georgia (90-61) and at the same time avenge the defeat suffered by the Spanish team in the last Eurobasket, which ended up leaving Scariolo's team out of the round of 16. A very dynamic Spain in attack, and with three good quarters in defense, annulled the Georgians, with Yusta as an offensive stiletto (17).
ESP
90
61
GEO
Lineups
| (19+28+23+20): DÃaz (9), Salvó (9); Reyes (8), Yusta (17), Guerra (6) – starting five -, Osobor (0), Cardenas (4), Alonso (10), Busquets (6), Paulà (5), Almansa (12), Costa (4). |
| (22+11+13+15): Andronikashvili (4), Phevadze (2), D. Sanadze (7), Shengelia (10X), Shermadini (8)- cinco inicial-, Jintcharadze (0), Burjanadze (3), Turdziladze (4), Korsantia (6), S. Sanadze (2), McFadden (5), Khatiashvili (10). |
Shengelia opened the scoring with a triple, in a duel that was not going to be as easy as the one against Denmark. The Barça player was the most incisive in attack and Salvó committed his second foul very soon with the Georgians dominating (2-9). Mateo's team added four fouls in just four minutes in a poor Spanish start.
Reyes scored the first triple to wake up the Spanish team (5-11) who had a hard time breaking the visiting defense. The Spanish response came from triple. Although Georgia scored easily (8-15) without Mateo deciding to call time. Although another three-pointer from Sanadze finally forced the Spanish coach to stop the duel (8-18, min.6).
Osobor and PaulÃ, two of the outstanding ones in Denmark, came into play. Yusta scored his first triple to close the gap, with Spain clearly in tow, very soft in defense and without many ideas in attack.
Paulà put energy when he entered the duel against Georgia / FEB
Osobor injury
Osobor suffered a severe blow to the inside of his knee that forced him to leave the duel in Shengelia's arms. That blow looked bad, losing Mateo to an interior. With two good actions by LluÃs Costa, Spain closed the first quarter only three points down (19-22), a good result given the poor Spanish play in the first 10 minutes.
Busquets was able to enter the game due to the injuries of Jaime Fernández and Dani DÃez / FEB
Spain's defensive intensity increased although McFadden began to show his offensive ability to keep Georgia ahead (23-29). Cardenas and PaulÃ's triples managed to tie the duel (29-29) at the best moment for Spain, being able to run and make good transitions.
A triple by Busquets and another basket by Guerra gave the maximum income to Mateo's team (34-29), who were more active in attack and with a dull Shengelia. A new triple from Yusta launched the Spanish team, in its best minutes (37-29), with a run of 18-7 in the quarter.
Shengelia was not as effective, which Spain took advantage of to dominate in the first half / FEB
The triples kept Spain in total control (45-33) partly to the mistake in the free throws of Shermadini and Shengelia, the Georgian lighthouse that illuminated less than usual. At half-time, a more than good result for Mateo's team, with Santi Yusta as the most outstanding in attack (47-33).
Alberto DÃaz shoots at Spain
At the restart, Georgia came out with more intensity (47-37), although two triples by Alberto DÃaz kept Spain in control (53-37). The Unicaja point guard revolutionized the match with few static actions and both teams running the entire court. Zizic did not want the game to end prematurely, calling for a timeout.
Alberto DÃaz revolutionized Spain after the break / FEB
Shengelia and Shermadini woke up for their team, trying to contain a Spain that was much happier in its game (55-43). But Alberto DÃaz was still inspired from the triple and even Oriol Paulà made a 'pipe' to Shengelia in a counterattack for the fun in Tenerife and with Mateo's team launched (60-43). Spain wanted more and achieved 25 points (70-45) in the duel completely broken in the third set (70-46) after a final set of 23-13.
Despite the clear advantage, The Spanish team did not slow down and reached 34 points (88-54) to add two victories in this first qualifying window for the Catara 2027 World Cup in the debut of Chus Mateo. Osobor's injury was the only mark on a happy night in which Yusta was once again the most effective player (17).
