Kings of Europe: Spain reclaims EuroBasket title / News - Basketnews.com

Spain won their 4th gold medal in 13 years.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Spain capped off FIBA EuroBasket 2022 with a masterpiece performance to claim their fourth continental trophy following 2009, 2011, and 2015 success. They reclaimed the title from Slovenia which won it in 2017.

Player of the Game EFF 29 Juan Hernangomez Points 27 Accuracy 9-11 Rebounds 5 Assists 0

Despite wasting a 21-point advantage in the third tally, Spain managed to overcome France, 88-76 (23-14, 24-23, 16-13, 22-19).

Meanwhile, France added the third silver accolade to their collection after previous second-place finishes in 1949 and 2011.

Both national teams had a sloppy start to the fourth quarter on the offensive end until Juancho Hernangomez hit his seventh triple in the match (71-61). Lorenzo Brown contributed with his two-point basket and Spain was up by 12 (75-63) with 4 minutes to play.

Both teams were trading buckets and it was a favorable scenario for Spain. Juancho Hernangomez and Alberto Diaz closed the game with 1:30 left on the clock, scoring five straight points (85-70).

Juancho Hernangomez was terrific for the winning squad. He finished the final with 27 points (2/2 2PT, 7/9 3PT, 2/2 FT), 5 rebounds, and 30 EFF.

His brother Willy scored 14 points (5/14 2PT, 4/6 FT), grabbed 8 rebounds, and collected 11 EFF.

Lorenzo Brown and Willy Hernangomez combined for 11 points to push Spain to a hot 14-5 start in the final. The same 9-point margin (23-14) differed between both national teams after 10 playing minutes.

Juancho Hernangomez drained four triples in a row and Spain had plus 19 points (35-16) at the start of the second quarter. Sergio Scariolo's men went on a 12-2 spurt to begin the second tally.

Juancho continued to shoot lights out, connecting two more shots from downtown. His brother, Willy, added a 2+1 play and Spain had a 21-point lead (47-26).

However, the trio of Thomas Heurtel, Guerschon Yabusele, and Evan Fournier, who scored five straight points, initiated an 11-0 run to close the second quarter on a high note. France was trailing by 10 (37-47) at halftime.

France started where they left it. Guerschon Yabusele poured in 7 points, Thomas Heurtel added a duo, and France was just 3 points away (46-49) at the start of the third period. The success was temporary, though.

Led by Jaime Fernandez, Spain responded after a timeout with a 9-0 spurt to restore a double-digit advantage (58-46). France played a better stretch at the end of the quarter but Spain still had a substantial 9-point cushion (66-57) before the last 10 minutes of the game.

Spain: Juancho Hernangomez 27 (5 REB), Lorenzo Brown 14 (11 AST), Willy Hernangomez 14 (8 REB), Jaime Fernandez 13 (4 STL).

France: Evan Fournier 23, Thomas Heurtel 16 (7 AST), Guerschon Yabusele 13 (6 AST).

Juancho Hernangomez's performance:

Game highlights:

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