España campeón del Mundial de Baloncesto China 2019 / Gasol completes historic double, Spain wins World Cup

Este domingo la selección de España se consagró con la presea dorada al ganarle 95-75 al combinado de Argentina, en el Mundial de Baloncesto de China 2019.

Con un gran trabajo defensivo, la selección de Sergio Scariolo consiguió durante gran parte del partido anular el ataque de los argentinos, incapaces de desplegar su poderosa ofensiva. 

Este se convierte en el segundo campeonato del equipo español, después de 13 años sin alzar el codiciado trofeo.

Los españoles liderados en la competición por Ricky Rubio y Marc Gasol, que en semifinal dejaron en el camino a Australia, impusieron su experiencia en el juego decisivo para controlar al equipo revelación y obtener una rápida ventaja inicial.

La supremacía de España se mantuvo a lo largo de todo el encuentro, con parciales de 23-14, 20-17, 23-16 y 29-28 que le permitieron repetir el título mundial conseguido en 2006.

A pesar de la derrota, Argentina completó una destacada labor en el Mundial, en el cual dejó en el camino a potencias como Serbia y Francia para alcanzar sorpresivamente la final y a la vez obtener la clasificación a los próximos Juegos Olímpicos.

El máximo anotador del partido fue el argentino Gabriel Deck con 24 puntos, mientras que en el conjunto español se destacaron Gasol con 14 puntos, 7 rebotes y 7 asistencias, y Rubio con 20 puntos, 7 rebotes y 3 asistencias.

El veterano ala-pívot Luis Scola, único integrante del equipo argentino actual que ganó la medalla de plata en el Mundial de 2002 y el oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de 2004, llegó a 41 partidos en copas del mundo de baloncesto e igualó la marca del brasileño Bira.

Argentina, que sólo obtuvo el campeonato del mundo en la competencia disputada en su país en 1950, repitió el subcampeonato obtenido en 2002 en Grecia.

Los 8 partidos de España en el Mundial 2019 de China:

España 101-62 Túnez
Puerto Rico 63-73 España
España 73-65 Irán
España 67-60 Italia
España 81-69 Serbia
España 90-78 Polonia
España 95-88 Australia
Argentina 75-95 España

Cortesía: Reuters

ENGLISH

BEIJING (AP) — Marc Gasol looked to the sky as confetti fell, some sticking to his massive shoulders, and then cradled and kissed the giant golden chalice that goes to the World Cup champions.

He’s getting good at hoisting trophies.

Gasol got to bask in a championship celebration for the second time in three months – and this time, he did it for his country. Tournament MVP Ricky Rubio scored 20 points, Sergio Llull added 15 and Spain won the World Cup for the second time by topping Argentina 95-75 on Sunday.

”We weren’t the most talented team,” Rubio said. ”We weren’t the bigger team. Put anything you want, but we were the team with the biggest heart and we showed it tonight and we showed it during the whole tournament.”

Gasol scored 14 for the winners, who never trailed and added this crown to the one it claimed in 2006. And for him, 2019 will go down as a year the likes of which few others have enjoyed.

The Toronto Raptors center becomes the second player to win an NBA title and a FIBA world gold medal in the same year, joining Lamar Odom – who did it for the Los Angeles Lakers and USA Basketball in 2010. Gasol also became the 19th to win either an NBA or WNBA crown along with a gold medal, either of the Olympic or World Cup variety, in the same year.

The first 18 all did it for the U.S.

This time, Vamos Espana!

”NBA champion and a World Cup champion as well,” Gasol said. ”What can I say? How does it sound to you? I feel very fortunate to be in this position and be able to play this game and help these guys be part of history of Spanish basketball.”

Llull and Rudy Fernandez – the team captain, the one who initially got to accept the Naismith Trophy – went to cut down the nets shortly after the final buzzer. Gasol carried the game ball to the gold-medal ceremony, and Spanish fans wept in the stands during the national anthem.

Gabriel Deck scored 24 points for Argentina (8-1), which got off to a slow start and played uphill the rest of the way. Luis Scola was held to eight points, shooting 1 for 10 from the floor.

”We’re sad right now. We’re very sad,” Scola said. ”But I feel confident, in hours, we’ll be able to look back and be very proud. They just played better than us. They were better. They deserved to win. They were the better team in the game and the tournament.”

Spain led 43-31 at intermission, after putting together a 14-2 run to open the game and a 17-1 run later in the half.

”This is basketball,” Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said. ”If you play better than the other team, you win the game. And Spain was the best team today.”

Scola, even at 39 years old still Argentina’s best player throughout the tournament, didn’t get on the scoresheet until he made a pair of free throws with 2:57 left in the third quarter. But they only cut the Spain lead to 19, and by then the Argentinian fans who stood, sang and chanted for much of the game were relatively quiet.

The day belonged to Spain.

And the year belongs to Gasol.

”It’s unbelievable,” Gasol said.

TIP-INS

Argentina: This was the third FIBA World Cup medal for Argentina, making it the fifth nation with that many after the United States (12), Yugoslavia (10), the Soviet Union (eight) and Brazil (six). Another four nations have two medals, including Spain. … Argentina fell to 2-8 all-time against Spain in World Cup or Olympic competition.

Spain: It was also a double-title year for Spain coach Sergio Scariolo; he’s an assistant on Nick Nurse’s staff in Toronto. … Gasol said there will be a celebration in Madrid early this week, and then he’ll return to his Barcelona home to pack before heading to Toronto to prepare for camp. … Spain won the rebound battle 47-27.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Joining Rubio on the all-tournament team were Gasol, Scola, France’s Evan Fournier and Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic.

DIGNITARIES

Among those in attendance: Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, FIBA ambassador and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, plus Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili – both four-time NBA champions with San Antonio.

5 WITH 2

Spain is the fifth nation to win the World Cup (or its predecessor, the world championship) at least twice. The U.S. and Yugoslavia are five-time champions, the Soviet Union won three titles and Brazil has won two.

UP NEXT

Argentina: Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Spain: Qualified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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