From Lisbon to Debrecen, from Pau Gasol to Izan Almansa, from Charly Sáenz de Aja to Dani Miret. 24 years later, golden juniors, kings of the basketball world of the future. On a night of agony at the Fönix Arena, Spain wrote history after being proclaimed U19 world champion for the second time.
He had to resort to extra time (73-69) after a championship without blemish in Hungary, to suffering, resistance and the comeback against a France that demanded from Spain a real test of character. The eternal rival again defeated although he managed to minimize the impact of the MVP Almansa, although he overwhelmingly dominated the rebound (29-54), although Melvin Ajinça put on his boots. In the abyss, the impudence of Jordi Rodríguez, the power of Baba Miller, the mettle of Rafa Villar, the zeal of Sediq Garuba appeared. The owners of tomorrow.
That July 23, 1999 as this July 2, 2023. Giant children who light up dreams. Then, the unprecedented, those cheeky boys in which Felipe Reyes, Juan Carlos Navarro or Raúl López already stood out and in which a spiky Catalan pivot left brushstrokes of what could become -expectations crushed by the legendary career of Pau Gasol-, conquered the world gold after beating the United States in the final. These now crown the unthinkable work of quarry of national basketball, medals in spurts every summer, they and also they, the envy of the rest. Then those of 1980, now those of 2004 and 2005, in which they are missing, for example, Juan Núñez and Aday Mara, who are already with the sub 20.
Beatings
After an impeccably amazing tournament, where the Spaniards swept each of their rivals -in quarters to Argentina by 38, in semis to Turkey by 32, in the first phase to Lebanon by a historic 102-20-, France, which they had already beaten in the first phase (88-69) and that came from giving the surprise of the World Cup by throwing the USA in the semifinals, It was a much fiercer rival. From the very dawn, where the defense of Spain, its hallmark, could not break the Gallic momentum, where free kicks were a burden and the two faults of Baba Miller another handicap, the selection learned to advance in the mud of a thick game.
The nerves didn't help and neither did the tiredness. Mistakes followed while France, where Zacharie Perrin caught every rejection (20 rebounds) and Ajinça did a lot of damage, commanded the scoreboard. In the absence of six minutes, for seven, red alarm. Miller appeared, a former Real Madrid academy player, one of the many Spaniards who make the Americas, now at Florida State. And the talent of the verdinegro Jordi Rodríguez, another who crosses the pond.
A basket by the forward, stepping lightly on the line of three, forced overtime (France did not hit the last attack) and in extra time, again dramatic, Villar's points and defensive excellence (Spain forced up to 28 turnovers to its rival), took the team to the top of the world.
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