66-75 | Spain remain on the brink of a comeback against great Australia

Segovia welcomed the national team back with a virtually full Pedro Delgado Pavilion and a very high level of competition just days before their Olympic debut. Australia were clear favourites for a medal and played a great game both in attack and defence. Spain tried to defend in turns with different quintets until they found the key in the last quarter and Spain went from -22 to -3. Maite Cazorla leads, Vilaro and Leo Rodriguez are intense on both sides of the field, as well as Araujo and Gustavsson. Victory eluded them, but Miguel Mendez’s team showed the competitiveness that distinguishes them.

The game began with a basket from Alba Torrens, who was in the starting five along with Cazorla, Casas, Gustavson and Gil. But Australia are clear favorites for an Olympic medal with players of the caliber of Whitcomb, Magbegor, Allen and the legendary Lauren Jackson. The Oceanic team made it clear from the start that they were in the final stages of preparation, going ahead 8-13 after a three from Kayla George forced Miguel Mendez’s first timeout. The first quarter ended with a goal from Melbourne that gave Australia a 16-18 lead.

Andrea Vilaro contributes a lot to this team in the intensity of the defense, but his goal put Spain ahead again on the scoreboard (21-20), before Miguel Mendez practically returned to his starting quintet. Gustafson showed that he is in shape and does not need much to be one of the first options in attack (9 points before the break). Mendez tried to create a 2-3 zone, but Jackson broke it with a triple shot forward and made the score 26-32. Australia was very successful in attack, while Spain could only score with free throws. At the break the score was alarming: 30-42.

Australia wanted to put the game away as quickly as possible and a 3-10 made it 33-52, with Smith and Magbegor doing much of the damage. Miguel Mendes continued to search for his perfect quintet, even with Aina Ayuso on the court at the two, but the shooting percentages were low and the opposition’s defense was very tense. At -20, things got tough and Maite Cazorla’s three at the end of the quarter was parried by another from Lauren Jackson to make it 43-64.

But the game changed in the final period. Gustavson scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to take the lead and bring Spain closer to the scoreboard. Andrea Vilaro made it 52-64 with a counterattacking three in the best minutes of Miguel Mendez, who supported the quintet (Cazorla, Vilaro, Rodriguez, Araujo and Gustavson) who were hurting the Australian defense. A tackle by Leo Rodriguez made it 66-69 and victory was on the line again. Australia did not allow it and took advantage of the Spanish fatigue to seal the victory despite a final panic.