hThere are tests that serve to iron out certain details and others that tell you, with more or less reliability, where you are. Spain’s match against Canada belongs to the second category. Because of the rival’s potential and thinking above all about the future. If everything goes as it should, both teams will cross paths again in the second phase of the World Cup in Jakarta, but then with a transcendental game that could be the door to the quarterfinals.
Spain fell to Canada, 80-85 after extra time, and showed that they still have work to defend their World title and their number 1 ranking with guarantees. They competed at a high level against the USA and were good against Canada except in the third quarter and overtime. The two tests were very positive for Scariolo and give an idea of the evolution of the team… and the road that remains to be covered.
Put to compare, Canada needs more filming than Spain. The North American team, like their neighbors to the south, play with a great rhythm, a lot of intensity and get oil one on one, but they were very disorganized and that is the job that Jordi Fernndez has ahead of him. After all, they have been out of important tournaments for a long time and less as favorites. But he is a team.
Canada is one with Shai Gigleous Aleander and RJ Barrett on track and another without them. They came out very strong in the first quarter, scoring 27 points, and reaching a maximum advantage of 10-19 with the Thunder and the Knicks at full capacity.
Between the rest of their stars and Scariolo’s adjustments, mainly in defense, the second quarter was another story. Canada took more than five minutes to score and crashed into the Spanish defensive approach. In the national team, the departures of Llull, in his first game on the tour, and Rudy were decisive. Rudy’s connection, in his 250 international match, with Garuba was special. With that, the Family went into the break with an advantage, 44-40.
At the restart, problems came for Spain and their worst minutes. Canada pressed in defense, and Scariolo’s men stopped moving the ball and there were even four exhausted possessions without shooting. It is the part in which the coach will have to influence the most in the days that remain until the championship. The team simply disconnected from their good first half.
With a base of players with enormous intensity, Aldama, Rudy, Garuba, Díaz…, Spain recovered its defensive pulse and everything was open for the last act, 56-55.
The defensive intensity in Spain continued, also in Canada, but there was little success and the game was reduced to the one that failed the least in attack. Two triples from Parra, one on the board, gave Spain air (69-64), but Shai insisted on putting the game in a handkerchief. A failure by Brizuela on one side and by Shai on the other led the game to extra time.
Overtime was Canadian. The North Americans continued to change with each block, but recovered lucidity in attack. Just the opposite of Spain, which took almost three minutes to score. A triple by Claver brought Spain closer, 78-80 with one minute to go. Barrett sealed Canada’s victory from the line in a test of great value for Spain.
