Spain overwhelms Ukraine in the first round

The Spanish men’s basketball team beat Ukraine this Friday (66-86), in their exile in Riga, thanks to a progression in the triple and a defense that stifled some Ukrainians who were less in this first round between the two, with two teams that will meet again in Oviedo next week with the option that ‘La Familia’ can achieve a pass to the next phase of the qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

After a first half marked by the alternation in the scoreboard and the lack of continuity in the internal game, Spain relied on a spectacular run of 1-21 in the third quarter, driven by Ferran Bassas, Pierre Oriola, Jaime Fernández and Álex Reyes, which radically changed the tone of the match.

That change of chip, that turning point, left the series very favorable to ‘La Familia’, which will be able to seal the pass to the next phase, the Second Round of this qualification for the World Cup that Qatar will host in 2027, in Oviedo next week, on Monday, March 2 at the Palacio de los Deportes.

For now, this first clash between Spain and Ukraine was won by the Spanish. Chus Mateo’s team started a balanced and tight-scoring duel poorly, with Spain leading at times and Ukraine reacting to reach minimal leads of 6-7 points, thanks to the push of Kovliar, Lypovyy and Lukashov.

But Bassas’ triples and hits from the perimeter kept the Spanish team in the game, although difficulties in the paint and losses allowed the Ukrainians to stay close at halftime (33-32), despite the fact that Spain was down 7 points in the second quarter. The feeling was of a locked match, low pace and a lot of equality, where any detail could unbalance the balance.

After the intermission, Spain emerged with a defensive intensity that stifled Ukraine and with a more fluid and precise attack. Pierre Oriola, returning to the team after five years of absence, opened his participation with a triple and continued to provide rebounds and interior presence, while Bassas continued to punish from outside. The Spanish veteran to power.

The 1-21 run in just seven minutes dislocated the Ukrainians and turned a minimal advantage into +18 (47-65), with Spain finding rhythm, confidence and mobility, and Ukraine only being able to maintain itself with Kovliar as a reference. The third quarter (14-33 for Spain) was remembered for its imbalance and how Spain managed to impose its style with defense and speed of ball circulation.

In the last period, Spain continued to increase the lead and widen the difference to the final +20 (66-86), with triples from Cárdenas, Yusta, Almansa and a brilliant closing by Oriola and Francis Alonso. Ukraine could not respond, and only Kovliar, Bobrov and Paulí tried to make up the score.

The victory leaves Spain with a foot and a half in the next phase, demonstrating that Chus Mateo’s team can combine experience, exterior success and physicality, and that defense, ball movement and success in key moments are the weapons that will allow ‘La Familia’ to try to seal their classification in Oviedo in the second consecutive duel between both teams.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: UKRAINE, 66 – SPAIN, 86 (33-32, at halftime).

–TEAMS.

UKRAINIA: Lukashov (7), Kovliar (15), Tkachenko (4), Voinalovych (4) and Skapintsev (10) –quinteto inicial–; Bublyk (-), Lypovyy (7), Bobrov (7), Shelist (2), Pustovyi (2), Tyrtyshnyk (2) and Zotov (6).

SPAIN: Cárdenas (16), Fernández (14), Yusta (9), Martínez (-) and Guerra (2) –starting quintet–; Paulí (7), Bassas (16), Reyes (3), Alonso (7), Almansa (4), Nogués (-) and Oriola (8).

–PARTIALS: 21-17, 12-15, 14-33 and 19-21.

–ARBITROS: Zurapovic, Marques y Ceccarelli. Sin eliminated.

–PAVILLION: Xiaomi Arena in Riga.