The first two games of the Eurobasket, ended with a beating, had increased the illusion and perhaps the expectations of a renewed Spain. But, far from the 'no two without three', Belgium beat (73-83) an outmatched team that fell apart in the final minutes, when the score was still tight. No one was able to take the initiative and unblock the situation. A hard blow of reality against a second level team against which they had not lost since the 1964 pre-Olympic match (85-94).
The spectators of the Tbilisi Arena, again with a very poor entrance, witnessed the shortcomings of La Familia, fragile this time in defense and without clear ideas in attack. Several times he caught the end of the possession away from the hoop, without the play still armed. Instead, up front they ran into a Belgian team that exploited their few resources with intelligence. Obasohan, Gillet and the giant Bako started like a knife in butter between the soft hands of the Spanish team, who were also unable to close the rebound. A preview of what was to come.
The attitude shown in the first two games by Scariolo's pupils had vanished. The Hernangómez's points were insufficient to make up the result in a first quarter already dominated by coach Dario Gjergja's team (11-15). Spain's scoring drought still lasted for several minutes in the next quarter, until the second unit signed a spectacular 15-0 run. A great basket by Pradilla, a triple by Jaime Fernández and, above all, Brizuela's performance, with several worthwhile plays, allowed him to regain control of the scoreboard.
It seemed that Spain found the way and, nevertheless, the problems multiplied. To the little Spanish fluidity was added the little effectiveness both from the triple and from the personnel line. “Put intensity. Or I'll put those on the bench back, ”Scariolo threatened in a timeout, very angry.
The break was reached with equality (33-32) and continued after the restart. Nothing changed on the Spanish side, which survived with flashes but without continuity in the game, constantly on the verge of error. On the other side, Lecomte organized, while Vanwijn and Tabu executed from the triple to a Spain that entered the last ten minutes losing (54-57). There was no longer time to find the lost sensations, but to move forward with the match as it was. The triples by Parra and López-Arostegui gave oxygen and Willy Hernangómez, assisted by Brown, seemed to straighten out the situation. But the success of Gillet and Lecomte, who took advantage of the umpteenth defensive mistake, put the Spanish on the ropes (73-78). The dead time, with two minutes to go, had no effect and a triple by Lecomte plus a loss by Brown gave the finishing touch to La Familia, who will have to get up on Tuesday against Montenegro.
Spain (11 22 21 19): Brown (11), Parra (3), Juancho Hernangómez (11), López-Arostegui (7) and Willy Hernangómez (18) -five starters-, Rudy Fernández (2), Pradilla (3 ), Garuba (6), Jaime Fernández (5), Díaz (1) and Brizuela (6).
83 - Belgium (15 17 25 26): Lecomte (20), Bako (10), Gillet (14), Obasohan (11) and Vanwijn (8) -cinco inicial-, Bleijenbergh (3), De Zeeuw (2), Libert (2), Mwema (6), Tabu (6) and Tumba (1).
Referees: Saverio Lanzarini (ITA), Dariusz Zapolski (POL) and Erez Gurion (ISR). without eliminated
Incidents: Match corresponding to the third day of group A of the Eurobasket played at the Tbilisi Arena in Tbilisi before some 1,000 spectators.
