The traits of Chus Mateo in the new Spanish basketball team can already be guessed. It is a hard-working team that shares the spotlight with the ball and unites like a family when it is necessary to defend each rival attack. Hungry people, some with the youthful desire to write their name and others with the hope of recognition in the maturity of their careers. The coach completes the mix with an infectious passion and his tactical wealth to tie three consecutive victories in qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, the last one this Friday against Ukraine in exile in Riga by 66-86. They monopolized the spotlight with 16 points and four three-pointers without a mistake each.
Jaime Fernández acted as captain to take the wheel in the first minutes and start the team’s engine with penetrations. Cárdenas teamed up to hide a very difficult start, with the team hampered by its lack of external success and by too many losses. Without the joy of the November events, Chus Mateo’s team was left dry in attack: four points in almost five minutes. The coach turned on the fan of the changes and at least Isaac Nogués provided a strong jaw in defense, becoming a handball player who came and went on the court with the change of possession. Ukraine did not give much thought and aimed quickly at the rim to score the first round (21-17).
It was a lazy Spain that had a hard time giving speed to the ball and dynamism to its attack to create a good shooting position. Once again with his wrist asleep (three points in four and a half minutes after the break), it was Ferran Bassas who came to the rescue to compensate on the outside for the lack of food from the inside game. The Manresa point guard scored from the perimeter and from mid-range against a very closed Ukrainian defense that allowed those distant licenses. In return, Spain struggled to bite in the static attack and did not always find a gap quickly (33-32).
Cárdenas and Oriola chewed from a distance what Spain had trouble winning close to the board. and the returning veteran injected that adrenaline essential to competing in Riga. But the formula limped without turning the lock back and the promising Kovliar walked with his sights set. Jaime Fernández once again showed honors and the team took control of the match for the first time based on their improvement without the ball. The growth at the back of the team marked the differences and freed up the attacking players. Spain had rolled up their sleeves to impose the weight of their collective game, all united to recover each ball and share it with a devastating level of success. The team tied a partial of 1-21 in the second part of the third quarter to take a definitive bite: 47-65.
Ukraine sought the reaction with balls to its towers, the only solution against a more supportive Spain that recovered that altruism to keep the door of its basket closed and finish the match. Without players competing in the United States or in Euroleague teams, Chus Mateo is putting together a very supportive group that is going strong in qualifying for the World Cup. Three out of three, group leader and on Monday in Oviedo again against Ukraine.
