• Juancho.The joy of the national team

How not to dream. With a Ricky Rubio in such a state it is difficult for Spain not to trigger the illusion. Just five days before the start of the World Cup , in the penultimate test before the debut against Tunisia, the national team, without Marc Gasol - lowered by stomach problems - passed the bad drink of Argentina with a huge outcome of the base. One of those nights to remember: 15 points in the last four minutes that made you forget all of the above. [76-84: Narration and statistics]

Because those baskets of Ricky, unleashed, full of confidence as never perhaps in his career, covered a gray and somewhat tangled envelope of Spain, just flashes in the first quarter and too many mistakes against an Argentina without Campazzo - he sprained his ankle on Monday before Russia-, but that showed a higher level of shooting, well commanded by Laprovittola and with Deck and Scola - yes, Scola, with almost 40 years -, as referents.

It was precisely Laprovittola, in the absence of Campazzo, that sounded the alarm clock of Spain very soon. It was an overwhelming start that of Argentina, an 11-3 exit , in less than two minutes, which soon made things clear for Scariolo. Before the always competitive albicelestes, only the intensity could decant the balance. But what happened was an extraordinary but brief red response.

High voltage brush strokes. An outburst of fleeting basketball, commanding Ricky, of course, it was a beautiful statement of intent. Unbridled Spain, unbeatable for Argentina, more with Llull on track . Dynamite. Only the defensive tricks and the individual talent of the new Real Madrid base put a counterweight in that moment.

But that gale did not remain in the second quarter, nor later. Soon the hyperactive Oriola had to go to the bench for the third foul. Spain became entangled with an overly erratic Colom - he did not return to the track - the duel stopped dead ... until Ricky returned. Again the fluidity, the well-served pivots, mainly Willy Hernangómez, who put on his boots, but then in defense it will cost him to find out about the Argentine movements, which so often caught him and him and the rest, in offside.

Despite its good turnaround (46-37), Spain got stuck again, as if the jet lag still affected . Baskonista Vildoza became Ricky's watchdog and Argentina pulled hard to penalize every Spanish oversight. To such an extent that Sergio Hernández turned the scoreboard (52-56), with the eternal Scola giving lessons (he finished with 24 points and nine rebounds). Only Pau Ribas, contributing from the bench, something that the selection so much needs, seemed to be able to escape from the celestial spider web.

But suddenly, a wizard appeared in Ningbó . Ricky, now 'clutch player', willing to take the scoring responsibility, developed the whole of Argentina. In the last four minutes, 15 points (for a total of 25, plus eight assists), triple and penetrations before which the Argentines could do nothing.

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  • Spain
  • Argentina
  • Russia
  • Sergio Scariolo
  • Tunisia
  • Willy Hernangómez
  • Ricky Rubio
  • Real Madrid
  • Pierre Oriola
  • Pau Ribas
  • Marc Gasol
  • sports
  • Basketball World Cup 2019

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