Spain, the reigning EuroBasket champions, silenced any doubts that had surfaced after their opening loss by delivering a convincing response.
They dealt with Bosnia and Herzegovina 88-67, proving they’re very a lot alive and aggressive at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
The victory gave the four-time continental kings their first win of the match, balancing their Group C document at 1-1. Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the meantime, additionally sit at 1-1 after two video games.
Turning Level
The Spanish rhythm took form within the second quarter. An 11-2 run gave them a 35-20 lead, widening the margin and taking management. By halftime, the cushion had grown to 18 factors.
Then, as if to drive the dagger in, Spain opened the third quarter with 4 three-pointers in simply 4 minutes, stretching the result in 56-34. From there, as one Spanish participant put it, “we by no means regarded again.”
TCL Participant of the Recreation
Santi Aldama was the undisputed spark for Spain. The NBA ahead lit it up, connecting on 7 of 11 discipline targets, together with 4 of 6 from deep, on his strategy to 19 factors. He additionally collected 5 rebounds, dedicated no turnovers, and did all of it in solely 19 minutes on the ground.
“After our first sport we actually weren’t ourselves,” Aldama admitted. “That’s in all probability the toughest half, understanding you didn’t do what you possibly can management. On the finish of the day, if we play our basketball with the mandatory self-discipline and power, I feel we’re in an excellent spot.”
Willy Hernangómez chipped in 16 factors along with his trademark effectivity across the rim, whereas Dario Brizuela added 15 factors and 5 assists.
“We knew we wanted to step up at this time,” Brizuela stated afterward. “I feel we did on protection and rebounding and we ran and shared the ball loads. We’re completely happy about it however we nonetheless have three video games to win.”
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenan Kamenjaš led the group with 14 factors, whereas star middle Jusuf Nurkić was restricted to only 10.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain’s outdoors capturing was the good separator. They knocked down 15 three-pointers at a 39 p.c clip, spreading the ground and making Bosnia chase all night time.
On the similar time, their protection smothered the Dragons’ perimeter sport, holding them to only 3-of-21 from past the arc – a frigid 14 p.c. That two-way dominance on the three-point line determined the competition.
Backside Line
For Spain, the bounce-back win carried extra than simply reduction – it introduced momentum. Not solely did they get again to .500, however the 21-point margin may additionally play a important position later, offsetting their 14-point opening loss to Georgia in potential tie-breaker eventualities.
They subsequent face Cyprus on Sunday, getting into that matchup with restored confidence.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the meantime, face a frightening take a look at of resilience. Their subsequent opponent is Italy, the very group that toppled Georgia.
Coach Aziz Bekir mirrored candidly: “We’re not pleased with the rating and we aren’t pleased with the way in which that we performed. We’re completely happy that we gave our most power. However we didn’t play intelligent.”
They Stated
Coach Sergio Scariolo summed up the efficiency: “We began with power, with focus, with depth. We performed a number of minutes of fine basketball. We took 38 three-point pictures, which is extraordinarily vital for us. And 25 assists was an enormous quantity. And we had good group contribution.”
Bosnia’s gamers careworn the necessity to rapidly flip the web page.
Amar Alibegović put it bluntly: “With these video games in competitions like this you possibly can’t take into consideration the previous. It’s important to hold going. We now have one other Closing tomorrow. We now have to come back again with an entire new face, a very completely different model of ourselves if we need to compete.”
Aleksandar Lazić echoed the identical urgency: “It was a tricky sport, a tricky opponent. Spain is a extremely good group. We have to neglect this sport as a result of we performed unhealthy. We simply want to repair what we have to do higher within the subsequent sport towards Italy. That is a crucial sport.”
Spain bounce again with first victory ✅https://t.co/NO3st4M9dv
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 30, 2025
