Scariolo, Garbajosa and Spain proud of ''beautiful adventure'' to World Cup

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo and Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) President Jorge Garbajosa were filled with pride as the country's national team secured their spot for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in San Cristobal de la Laguna on Sunday, to make a "beautiful adventure" that was full of doubt and concern at the beginning become a case of mission accomplished.

After losing in Turkey on Thursday and missing their first chance to lock up a spot at China 2019, Spain held off a bigger and stronger Ukraine 72-68 to improve to 8-2 in Group I and book their ticket to their 10th straight FIBA World Cup.

Mission accomplished: Sergio Scariolo got Spain back to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"When we started this beautiful adventure a year ago we knew it would be difficult and hard, but not to what extent. Eternal thanks to these players and this coaching staff," said Garbajosa, who helped Spain win its only world title in 2006. "What they have achieved in a moment of extreme difficulty, not only for FEB but for Spanish basketball, to get Spain to the World Cup and, hopefully, into the Olympics, it is thanks to them."

Scariolo couldn’t help but look back to the start of the preparations in the summer of 2017, before the Qualifiers began last November.

"I remember when we started in Benahavis one and a half years ago with our first training camp with most of these players. There were so many doubts, so much concern about what was going to happen. Thanks to the heart and the talent of this group of players, now we can celebrate our qualification for the World Cup," he said. "All the credit goes to these players because from the first game to the last one, not only did they do their job but they did it with passion, enthusiasm, togetherness. I'm really proud of them."

"WHEN WE STARTED THIS BEAUTIFUL ADVENTURE A YEAR AGO, WE KNEW IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT AND HARD BUT NOT TO WHAT EXTENT. ETERNAL THANKS TO THESE PLAYERS AND THIS COACHING STAFF."- Garbajosa

Without his NBA and EuroLeague players, Scariolo ended up counting most heavily on the trio of Quino Colom, Jaime Fernandez and up-and-coming big man Sebas Saiz, who played in all 10 games through the first five windows of the Qualifiers.

"Now we can breathe and relax because we have managed to reach our goal, and any time you fulfil your goals you deserve to take your time to enjoy it," said Colom, who is leading the way for Spain in the Qualifiers with team-highs of 14.4 points and 4.8 assists to go with 2.9 rebounds.

"Mission accomplished," said Fernandez, who has averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals in the Qualifiers. "We managed to get the ticket to China with one window left. This speaks very highly about this team." 

"I REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED IN BENAHAVIS A YEAR AND A HALF YEAR AGO WITH OUR FIRST TRAINING CAMP WITH MOST OF THESE PLAYERS. THERE WERE SO MANY DOUBTS, SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THANKS TO THE HEART AND THE TALENT OF THIS GROUP OF PLAYERS, NOW WE CAN CELEBRATE OUR QUALIFICATION FOR THE WORLD CUP."- Scariolo

Colom and Fernandez had never played in official competitions for Spain's senior side before the European Qualifiers because of the top quality of Spain's leading NBA and EuroLeague guards. They have made the most of their opportunities in the Qualifiers. 

"We've done what we had to do in order to qualify and it’s been quite a spectacular job. Spain has a big responsibility to play with the best in the best tournaments. Spain belongs to the best and will play in the World Cup," Fernandez said.

Jaime Fernandez is one of the big reasons Spain is China-bound.

Clinching the ticket in San Cristobal de la Laguna was extra special for Javier Beiran, who plays his club basketball in Tenerife. 

"I am one of the 25-plus players who has had the honor to play and defend this national shirt and I feel very proud to have contributed to reach the goal we set a long time ago," said the 6ft 7in (2.01m) forward, who has averaged 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in seven games. "To play the World Cup is something very big for Spain, for the Spanish basketball, and to grab the ticket at home with our fans really makes it special."

Javier Beiran made his debut in Spain's senior national team during the Qualifiers.

Spain may have played much of the Qualifiers without their biggest stars but those who have carried the country for years immediately took to social media in light of the win over Ukraine to congratulate the current group about securing the ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

FIBA