Spain came close to glory... and saw it slip away in 180 seconds

Full article

Spain lets Eurobasket gold slip away after losing a 12-point lead in the last 3 minutes of the game

For most of the match, Spain had the gold in its hands. It had done everything right: a courageous approach, a solid defense and an attack with rhythm. With less than three minutes to go in the Eurobasket final, the women's national team led 65-53, which seemed definitive. But basketball, like life, takes nothing for granted until the final whistle. In those last moments, Belgium made an epic comeback with a 0-14 partial that left the Spanish team frozen and unable to react in time.

The national team, coached by Miguel Méndez, had arrived here with a firm step, leaving on the way powers like France in the semifinals. A tournament to mark, with a young group, without big media names, but with commitment and character. The gold medal would have been the dream finish. But it escaped in the worst terms: without being able to score a single point in the last three minutes and with big mistakes at the worst moment.

Everything seemed to be under control when Helena Pueyo scored a layup that put Spain with +12. But then the offensive engine stopped. The ball stopped moving, the players began to hesitate and Belgium smelled blood. Linskens nailed a triple, Meesseman began to add from the personal, and errors accumulated: losses, possessions without shooting, inaccuracies... And the score got tighter: 65-62 with a minute and a half to play. 

Spain, then, could not close the game. Belgium continued to believe. A good Belgian defense left the Spaniards without a shot on a key possession. Ayuso missed a forced shot. And with 18 seconds left, Julie Allemand equalized the duel with a layup after another loss. Timeout. Spain came out of the pressure with order, but instead of being fouled, the seconds were slipping away. Ortiz tried a risky pass to Torrens that ended up in rival hands. Delaere stole and scored on counterattack. The national team did not get up from that one.

The game ended with a free throw by Vanloo, a missed attempt on purpose to run out the clock and an incredulous Spain, which went from being close to gold to being left with nothing in a matter of seconds. The Spanish bench, frozen. The players, in shock. And a feeling of “this could not happen” floating in the air.

Miguel Méndez summed it up: “We stopped in attack, we stopped being vertical... we made mistakes that at this level are paid for”. And so it was. Despite the blow, the achievements of this team should not fall on deaf ears. In the midst of a generational transition, with a renewed squad, Spain has once again shown that it has a present and a future. It has competed toe to toe with the best and only the cruel outcome prevented a historic feat.

It leaves without a medal, but with pride. Because if there is one thing this team has made clear in this Eurobasket is that it knows how to fight to the end. Although this time fate had other plans.