By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Sergio Scariolo’s Spain may lack its usual star power in the roster, but Bulgaria was not a problem as the final 114-87 score proves. A more than convincing start with Spain proving that they are still the team to beat in Group A of Eurobasket 2022.
Lorenzo Brown with 17 points and 5 assists in 17 minutes, already firmly inserted in Sergio Scariolo’s system, and the Hernangomez brothers – 16+6+4 for Willy, 13+7 for Juancho – were more than enough for Spain to lead even by 29 points and cruise until the final result.
After a slow start, with the entry of Usman Garuba, the tune changed for the Spaniards. The young Houston Rockets‘ big man brought intensity, especially in the defensive end, where the Spanish team conceded very little and everything became simple.
Juancho closed the second quarter at 57-35 with a buzzer-beating three-point shot.
Sasha Vezenkov who curries Bulgaria on his shoulders tried his best with 26 points and 11 rebounds, but without a similar contribution from Dee Bost, who had 6 points and 7 assists, shooting 2/8 FG, couldn’t be a factor.
Spain and Bulgaria will play again in two days, against host country Georgia and Turkey respectively.
We’ll see if Sasha Vezenkov has any extra motivation, as he will once again meet Shane Larkin and Ergin Ataman on the other side of the court after the EuroLeague Final Four clash against Anadolu Efes.
As Vezenkov said: “As a member of a team that conceded 114 points, I don’t have much to say. We did not defend. Of course, this was not the match we wanted to play, but things don’t change by pressing a button and saying “yes, we will play well now”. We have to try to play well in every game. Now, until the Turkey game, we will rest a bit and try to play better.”