Same Spain but different: La Roja exceeding expectations at EuroBasket

BERLIN (Germany) - Spain are back in the Semi-Finals of a major tournament once again. A proud tradition maintained, but this time they have exceeded expectations at FIBA EuroBasket 2022.

Despite being crowned as FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 champions in China just three years ago, they arrived in Tbilisi for the start of this tournament off the back of an indifferent preparation and without the star names of yesteryear that were focal points of their success.

"IT'S ALREADY A BIG ACHIEVEMENT TO BE IN THE SEMI-FINALS OF THIS TOURNAMENT, WHERE EVEN GREAT TEAMS HAVE FAILED."

Gasol brothers Pau and Marc retired post Tokyo Olympics last summer alongside Sergio Rodriguez as they followed another great in Juan Carlos Navarro, while World Cup winning MVP Ricky Rubio is absent through injury.

Only three players from this year's final 12 selected for La Roja had experience playing at EuroBasket before and all of the talk was on other nations contending for the title - but here they are.

"It's already a big achievement to be in the Semi-Finals of this tournament, where even great teams have failed," commented head coach Sergio Scariolo. "But it's in our nature to compete to win every time, and we cannot stop and be satisfied."

You have to go back to 1997 for the last time that Spain were not competing in a Semi-Final at EuroBasket when even Rudy Fernandez was only 12 years old.

Now 37, Fernandez is the veteran figure for this much-changed, younger team and is still having a major impact both on-and-off the court. He scored 11 points in the Quarter-Finals victory with big shots accompanied by 5 steals to lead the defensive turnaround for his team.

This could be the last time Fernandez represents the national team in what is a seventh different EuroBasket appearance, but he is leaving everything on the floor and leading by example - drawing praise from his coach and teammates.

"I would be surprised [if he retires]," said Scariolo. "He's playing his best ever Championship. His role in the team is probably different to any other team he has had. He has a bad back, bad neck, bad knee, but he's not scared - diving around like an 18-year-old kid. Rudy is a great leader for this team."

Willy Hernangomez added, "Rudy is our captain, he is our pillar. He is always going to be there for us in the good moments and the bad moments. He has accomplished everything and his experience is important for a young team like us - we need a guy like Rudy. He is giving everything every single night and we need to learn from him."

The Hernangomez brothers have emerged from the shadows somewhat having seen their roles elevated for this tournament. The offense of Willy - a tournament-high 27 points - and the defense of Juancho were both vital components in the win over Finland.

And, Spain are getting contributions all the way down the roster. Lorenzo Brown is running the offense, Dario Brizuela is making shots, Alberto Diaz is the defensive stopper, Usman Garuba has made big plays.

New parts built on the same foundation. The blueprint for success is proving to be successful once again for Scariolo and co.

"The legacy of certain players that have retired already, the legends of this team. Fortunately, some of these players had time to spend in competitions, summers and training camps with those guys and could absorb some of that.

"Another big part is how our teams grow from the bottom - we have a very structured program which we started six, seven years ago with the young players and we established a system. We add something new to every generation every one or two years. The way they play, the way they practice. How we talk about what this shirt means.

"It's something we are extremely proud of. It's a lot of work and effort from lots of people. It doesn't happen overnight. It also comes from the great youth teams, so when they join us we just put them together and make them follow our principles."

Spain fell at the last four hurdle back in 2017 with a defeat to Slovenia, but this already feels like a win in some sense for a team expected to be in a phase of transition. No team that comes this far will be content, however, and Friday's encounter with Germany presents another opportunity.

"To be in the Semi-Finals of a tournament as competitive as this after all predictions were placing us between, I don’t know, 9th and 11th place is a huge accomplishment. And then comes the moment of truth, you go out on the court and you compete. We know our limitations but we try to exceed them and up until now we’ve done well."

"If others don't seize the opportunity this year, then I don't know when they will be able to seize it. We cannot go with a younger, less experienced team." - Scariolo when asked about giving other teams a chance.

Often, you learn by doing and this Spanish team is doing it the hard way with comeback victories against both Lithuania and Finland in the Knockout Phase as they fight to preserve their status amongst Europe's best.

FIBA