FIBA Pre-Olympic Tournament – Group A – working day 2
The memory of the Angolazo hovered for a few moments around the Fonteta. That defeat against the African team in the Barcelona 92 Games came back to life in Spain’s second game in the pre-Olympic tournament in Valencia. Scariolo’s team suffered and sweated to score the victory (89-81) and in the process qualify for the semi-finals of this Saturday’s tournament. Willy with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Aldama with 24 and eight, and Lorenzo Brown with 11 assists led the survival against an Angola that won the rebound battle (33-40). Bahamas beat Poland in the other part of the draw by 90-81 to tie up first place and second place will be played on Thursday (20.30) between the Poles and the Finns. The winner of this duel will be the rival of the Spanish team in the semi-finals, while Bahamas will face in the other match the winner of Lebanon-Angola (17.30).
The game also served as a chance for Sergio Scariolo to celebrate his 200th game in charge of the national team with a win. The 63-year-old Italian coach is only behind Antonio Díaz-Miguel (433). His 27-year stint ended with the surprising defeat at the Barcelona Games against Angola, the rival against whom Scariolo has reached two hundred appearances. The coach ended with a frown at the difficulties in beating Angola. Juancho did not play due to injury (“it doesn’t look good,” said Scariolo) nor Juan Núñez due to a technical decision.
Through those twists of fate, a generational thread linked the Angolazo with this pre-Olympic tournament. From Santiago Aldama to Santiago Aldama, father and son, present in each of the matches 32 years apart. Like Jean Jacques Conceiçao, the Angolan hero of the time, and his son Silvio de Souza, lined up against Scariolo’s boys. And with the ball in play, another heart-stopping match. Spain lined up the same starting five as against Lebanon, a team that seems to be taking shape as the starting base of the national team: Brown, Llull, López-Arostegui, Aldama and Willy. The combination mixes experience to manage the beginnings, defensive tack and two great inside scorers. Aldama gained prominence in the first steps with his ease of movement and Brown fed his connection with Willy. Spain was in charge (13-8). Angola resisted with physical strength and a drive in offensive rebounds that required the locals to keep their revolutions high.
The B-side came into play: Díaz, Brizuela, Rudy, Pradilla and Garuba. More defense, stripes and a good dose of youth under the hoops. Angola continued to earn second chances with their captures in attack, a hole that Scariolo’s team was having trouble filling (26-19). The Spanish team was technically superior, but that difference in talent did not translate into a definitive start. The points basket was filled mainly by Aldama, freed in front of the opposing backboard in these first two pre-Olympic games, and Willy, supplied by Brown. On the Angolan side the spoils were more shared. The boys trained by the Spaniard Josep Clarós lost their fear and attacked under the hoop, discovering there the gap where they could reduce the gap. Spain struggled to stop the penetrations and lost the second quarter to the Africans (24-26) to reach the break a hair ahead (46-43) and with a sense of concern about their game. The defense had leaked.
The connection between Lorenzo Brown and Willy Hernangómez is a blessing for the team. The point guard finds in the Madrid pivot the best target for his passes. And the big man has in the playmaker the man who best supplies him with balls in advantageous positions. In some way, both speak the same language. Spain breathes with this pairing and Scariolo breathes, who at least obtains a differential element there. This understanding allowed the team to take some oxygen in moments of suffocation (56-48). Aldama contributed with other good minutes. Angola responded with baskets on the run and again with the extra bonus of the offensive rebound to close the positions. The tension was maximum in the Fonteta (68-59).
A three-pointer from Rudy gave the team its best lead, 12 points. But then they conceded a 0-5 in a breath that angered Scariolo. The coach is deeply pained by the defensive gaps. Captain Rudy had to return again to control the pulse (82-74). There is a lot at stake and nerves are on edge. Spain turned to the stripes of Brown, Llull and Rudy to manage the last minutes and secure a hard-fought victory. The walk that was the debut against Lebanon became a rocky road against Angola on the way to the semi-finals of the pre-Olympic. Being in the Games, as the coach has already warned, will cost blood and sweat.
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