By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Willy Hernangomez with 27 points and two big threes by Rudy Fernandez which made the score 95-84 sealed the deal for Spain. “I am happy because we are in the next round guys and we have guys, like 37-years old Rudy who is giving everything on the court”, said Willy.
The defending World Champions beat ambitious Finland 100-90 and for the 11th straight Eurobasket, they are playing in the semifinals.
Dario Brizuela added 14 points, Juancho Hernandomez scored 15, Rudy had 11 plus five steals and Lorenzo Brown once more was the key with 10 points and 11 assists.
The experience of Spain was more than obvious, as the eventual winners weren’t rattled by the good start of Finland and dominated the second half, finishing the game with eight turnovers and 12 steals, while the losing side had 19 turnovers.
Finland completed the first quarter with a 30-19 lead after a made three behind the center of the court by Mikael Jantunen and even built a 15-point advantage (48-33).
However, Spain with the Hernangomez brothers scoring 23 points in the first half – 13 by Willy and 10 by Juancho – went to the locker rooms trimming Finland’s lead to nine (52-43).
“Finland did an unbelievable job all tournament, it was a tough battle”, said Willy in the press conference, “our first half was really bad and in the second half it was more like us”.
The Spanish comeback continued with a 9-1 run to start the second half (53-51) and a 60-57 lead after a three by Joel Parra. Spain ultimately entered the last period leading by six (73-67) and the momentum had changed.
As Finland coach Lassi Tuovi admitted: “It’s impressive how they come back and we couldn’t answer. We didn’t give up and I should be proud also of my players”.
Finland never got the lead back and the Spaniards continue their streak of semifinal appearances which dates back to 1999, while in total they have participated in a record number of 17 semifinals.
“When we settled down and we understood that we have to take better shots, everything fall into place”, added Spanish national team coach Sergio Scariolo.
Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the losing side, Jantunen had 18 points, and Alexander Madsen 13. It was the last game with the national team for two Finnish basketball icons, Shawn Huff and Petteri Koponen.
“You see why Spain is so tough, we gave it a good shot, but in the end, we couldn’t take care of the ball and you have to give them credit”, admitted Huff who also spoke about the improvement of the level of Finnish basketball.
“You build a culture and you get hungry if you start winning”, he said. “The young guys on this team don’t remember when me and Petteri played in the second division and this is a good thing because they want to win and they get hungry”.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA.BASKETBALL