JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
Marc Gasol became the second basketball player in history to win the NBA and World Cup in one year.
After 13 years, the Spaniards are back on the throne! In the grand final of the World Cup in China, Sergio Scariolo’s players won gold in the 18th basketball world championship. In the final in Beijing they defeated Argentina 95:75 (23:14, 20:17, 23:16, 29:28). Bronze won France.
8 matches and 8 wins – Spain won the World Championship without losing a single match in China. The final was a real cherry on the cake.
After two consecutive Rudy Fernandez’s closest threesomes, Spain was already leading by as much as 31:14. With a huge defence effort, disappointing slightly, the Argentines managed to score 31:43 until the break.
However, the time passed and the Argentineans’ actions did not bring any results. The Spaniards, on the other hand, played calmly and patiently, forced further offenses, and free throws were exchanged for points by Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio, breaking the dreams of the team of Sergio Hernandez for a return.
Gasol finally had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Rubio added 20 points and 7 rebounds and Rudy Fernandez completed double-doubles. On the side of the defeated 24 points Deck scored. However, Campazzo and Scola were missing from the attack, who scored a total of 3 out of 21 throws.
In the third quarter their advantage – resulting from the effective fight under the boards (47-27 in rebounds) – grew systematically and in the middle of this part reached 22 points (55:33).
Argentina in the last quarter managed to reduce the lead of the bronze medalists of the Rio de Janeiro games twice to 12 points (56:68, 66:78), but that was all that was allowed by Spain, playing more as a team. The wider composition of the Scariolo team, the greater experience of this coach and his players, who have been playing in the finals of the biggest events for years, determined their final success.
The triumphant coach Sergio Scariolo could even give his reserve players a moment on the court in the finals. Ricky Rubio was the best player in the final match.
Bronze medals from China will be exported by the French, who in the “comfort finale” defeated the Australians 67:59.
“Mundo Deportivo” recalled the last such success of Spanish basketball in 2006. Then in the finals La Roja players dealt with Greece and, as in the case of Sunday’s confrontation, won high – then 23 points, now 20.
The Spanish did it for the second time in their history (earlier in 2006) won the title of world champion. Argentina – after a good performance in China – won the silver and despite the defeat in the finals, it was a success.
Spain – Argentina 95:75 (23:14, 20:17, 23:16, 29:28)
Spain: Ricky Rubio 20, Sergio Llull 15, Marc Gasol 14, Rudy Fernandez 11, Willy Hernangomez 11, Juancho Hernangomez 11, Pierre Oriola 6, Pau Ribas 5, Victor Claver 2, Quino Colom 0, Xavier Rabaseda 0, Javier Beiran 0
Argentina: Gabriel Deck 24, Nicolas Laprovittola 17, Facundo Campazzo 11, Luis Scola 8, Nicolas Brussino 8, Lucio Redivo 3, Luca Vildoza 2, Marcos Delia 2, Tayavek Gallizzi 0, Maximo Fjellerup 0, Patricio Garino 0, Agustin Caffaro 0
