Spain has surpassed the United States in the official FIBA ranking thanks to its two victories in the fifth qualifying window for the World Cup and the defeat of the United States against Brazil, "a symbolic title but of great importance", according to the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, Jorge Garbajosa.
The Spanish men's team is the world and European champion and has qualified for the 2023 World Cup with a record of 9 wins in 10 games.
After the November window, Spain stands with 758.6 points, ahead of the United States (757.7), Australia and Argentina. The top ten positions are completed by France, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece and Italy.
"November 18, 2022 is already a date that will remain in the memory of all of us who love basketball because for the first time in history Spain occupies first place in the FIBA men's ranking," Garbajosa said this Friday.
"The selection of Los Angeles'84 comes to mind, the gold juniors and everything that came after them, the selection of the windows, the heroes of the last Eurobasket...", listed the president.
"But I also want to remember all those clubs, large and small, coaches, referees, and Autonomous Federations who work so hard every day so that Spain has this privileged position. To all the coaches who have gone through the national team, especially the Sergio Scariolo, the captain of this team that has given us so much success in Spanish basketball, and also the essential sponsors that allow us to aspire to the maximum”, he added.
"It is a symbolic title but for us it is of great importance. We are going to face the year of the Centenary from the first position in the world ranking," he said, referring to the celebrations for the first century of the life of the organization he presides over.
