• The second rebirth of Alba Torrens. "Either I operated or I could not have continued at the highest level"

The Spanish women's basketball team caresses its classification for the Tokyo Games after hitting South Korea on Thursday at its premiere at the Belgrade Pre-Olympic Championship (83-46), a very choral performance led by Leonor Rodríguez's points (14) and with seven players in double valuation digits.

Spain, which is not enough to remain last in Belgrade to secure its Olympic ticket, will confirm its classification if it hits China on Saturday (12.00 hours) on the second day . The Asian team, a priori the most complicated adversary of the group, also began with a victory against Great Britain (86-76).

Seven months after re-proclaiming Europ a champion at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, the team trained by Lucas Mondelo returned to action on the same stage and did so without any confidence against the theoretically more affordable rival of the group. The prize was too sweet to fall into misses.

Supported in his pivot Ji Su Park (1.98 meters), the only player of the squad above 1.82 in height, Korea endured the guy in the first quarter , who finished only three points down (19-16), but the gasoline did not give him more before a very applied Spain in defense and always covering the shots of three, the best weapon of his rival.

Sentence before the break

It was Rodriguez, with 12 points and three triples without failure in a large first half , responsible for breaking the match and shooting the Spanish team on the scoreboard (35-20, min. 16). With a tray of Marta Xargay, the continental champion reached a maximum of 18 at rest and left the game more than on track (43-25).

Aware that the difference in points can help in hypothetical draws, Spain did not loosen up after the break and completed another overwhelming room (20-7) against a rival without weapons to stand up. Mondelo took the opportunity to distribute minutes thinking about the much more physical duel that is expected against China and his 12 players ended up participating and also scoring.

Despite the efforts of Hyejin Park, top scorer of the duel (17) , the final difference went up to 37 points, the most bulky in the background between the two teams. Spain thus closed a round debut in the return of Alba Torrens, who missed the last Eurobasket due to injury, and almost touched his fifth Olympic Games with his fingers.

Data sheet

  • Spain 83 : Dominguez (7), Palau (10), Torrens (9), Gil (9) and Nicholls (4) - initial quintet--; Ouviña (3), Xargay (9), Casas (6), Rodríguez (14), Count (6), Abalde (2) and Lo (4).
  • South Korea 46 : Go (-), A.Kang (7), D.Kim (-), Bae (4) and JSPark (10) - initial quintet--; L.Kang (3), M.Kim (-), HBKim (3), Ku (-), H.Park (17) and Sim (2).
  • Partial : 19-16, 24-9, 20-7 and 20-14.
  • Referees : Noujaim (LBN), Sharapa (BLR) and Yalman (TUR).
  • Pavilion : Aleksandar Nikolic Hall (Belgrade).

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • basketball
  • JJOO Basketball

BasketballThe second rebirth of Alba Torrens: "Either I operated or I could not continue to the highest level"

NBADelonte West and his endless descent into hell

Euroleague 2019 - 2020 Too much CSKA for an improved Baskonia