The team completes the first stop of its Olympic tour with very good feelings
MADRID, 23 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s basketball team defeated China (70-46) this Sunday in the second friendly in preparation for the Olympic Games, within the Vigo tournament that was the first stop on the tour to Paris 2024.
After the victory on Friday over Turkey, Spain beat a China that was favorite for the medals in the French capital and that in fact will be a rival of the Spanish in the Olympic tournament. Miguel Méndez’s team had a good defense and a good success despite hiding some of his cards.
In fact, the match was not played by Alba Torrens or Silvia Domínguez, two mainstays of the national team, in addition to the debutants the other day Awa Fam and Iyana Martín. In China they also held their cards, they even didn’t let television in during their downtimes, but the Asian giant was far behind.
With the physical load on both teams, the Chinese, in their usual long Olympic camp, had their legs heavier and their defense was not that of Spain. Méndez’s team pushed back and had a lot of mobility in attack, with a little more aim than against Turkey. María Conde was once again the best, along with Laura Gil, strong as Paula Ginzo in the complex painting work, and Leo Rodríguez who gave rhythm to the first half.
The Canarian’s recital allowed the host to take the reins already in the second quarter. China did not make use of its greater height nor did it have success from three, its other great weapon, and Méndez’s team punished the counterattack with good control of the rebound and with the first triples in the second quarter (32-24).
The restart brought some losses, but with a three-pointer from Conde España he put the team back in the lead again. The Chinese threw in the towel already in the third quarter, leaving many doubts despite being a month away from both of them meeting again in the first match of Paris 2024. Méndez’s rotation increased the income, with good minutes from Nerea Hermosa, Ortiz and Araújo, and a 48-37 that grew in the last quarter.
Spain continued to do its thing and China, with Liwei and Xu (16 points) as the most outstanding players, took more than six minutes to score in that final quarter. Playing easy with direct blocking, also brave in one-on-one, the Spanish team closed its time at the As Travesas Sports Center in Vigo with great taste.
The internationals will now have a few days of rest and the next stop will be in mid-July. Spain will travel to Charleroi to face the current European champion and with whom they played in the Eurobasket final last summer, Belgium, on July 12, and a day later they will play against Canada. Before traveling to Paris, the team will play two more games in the Pedro Delgado pavilion in Segovia: 22 and 24, against Australia and again Canada.
2024-06-23 11:45:46
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