Rubio: 'This generation deserved more than a bronze medal'

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Spain beat Australia 89-88 in Sunday's Bronze Medal Game at the Olympic Basketball Tournament, but Ricky Rubio feels the European champions could have done a lot better in Rio.

Spain had a slow start to the competition, losing their first two Group Phase games against Croatia and Brazil but ultimately stepped up when it mattered most. 

Sergio Scariolo's side lost to the USA in Friday's Semi-Finals but bounced back with a nerve-racking triumph over the Boomers to claim a third straight Olympic medal.

Just how did Spain prevail over Australia, Rubio was asked.

"We fought very hard for this medal, and we really happy that we accomplished it," he replied. "This is a game to watch again. Fourth place at the Olympics is the worst, but this generation of players deserved more than a bronze medal. To win an Olympic medal is really tough, it's not as easy as people might think."

"We celebrated that way because we are a big family. We all know what we have been through. We suffered together and celebrate together."

With the prospect of Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Gasol and Felipe Reyes retiring from the national team, Rubio is looking for the younger generation to carry on taking care of business.

"They [Navarro, Gasol and Reyes] lifted Spain's basketball to its highest point, and we'll make sure to keep it at the top," he said.

FIBA