Spain wants to take advantage of the doubts of the host

Spain wants to take advantage of the doubts of the host

The Spanish team is looking for its second victory in the Eurobasket against a 'touched' Georgia, but that prevailed in the windows

MADRID, 2 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish men's basketball team will face this Saturday (7:00 p.m./Four) their second game of Eurobasket 2022, a duel that is expected to be more demanding because they will face a Georgia team that will have the support of the Tbilisi Arena and that two months ago was able to prevail in the 'FIBA windows'.

Spain began its journey in the continental tournament with good feelings after a resounding 114-87 victory against Bulgaria, the theoretically simplest rival and that did not put up a resistance that is expected of the host, despite the fact that she stumbled in her debut against Belgium 79-76 and after an extension.

This defeat may cause the Georgians to come out with even more desire to beat the triple European champion, something they already did relatively recently, although in another context. Almost two months ago, on July 4 and on the same stage, the current world champion lost 82-76, after five extra minutes, in a 'FIBA window'.

However, that day, Georgia had one of its stars in the form of former Baskonia and CSKA Tornike Shengelia, who was injured in preparation for this Eurobasket and minimizes the potential of a team that, instead, has its two 'NBA ' center Goga Bitadze (Pacers) and power forward Alexander Mamukelashvili (Bucks).

Both are over 2.10 tall and against the Belgians they were the most outstanding, combining to contribute 32 points (14 and 18) and 22 rebounds (9 and 13), with the second playing almost 40 minutes, for the more than 30 that played his partner.

The two add more physical strength inside a Georgian team that has Giorgi Shermadini there, who in the 'window' did a lot of damage, although in the debut he was far from his best level. Controlling these players and nationalized Thadeis McFadden, a scoring point guard who also accumulated many minutes in the premiere, seems vital to having a more 'comfortable' game.

Spain will have to use their weapons and their best rotation to try to maintain the physical demands to which they will want to subject the host, who hopes to take advantage of everything inside, where only the corpulence of Willy Hernangómez exists.

This is an aspect that worries Sergio Scariolo, who demanded a collective step forward defensively, especially in the defensive rebound, from his players, who he hopes will maintain the good line from the three pointer than against Bulgaria because he knows that inside they will have the most 'mined' terrain.

"All the games are key, but it is true that this one is a bit special because they play at home, with their fans pressing and for that reason we have to have maximum concentration and that each one in their role is at their best to get it going", he stressed. in the previous Alberto Díez, one of the survivors of the last duel against the Georgians along with Jaime Fernández, Xabi López-Aróstegui, Darío Brizuela, Joel Parra, Jaime Pradilla and Sebas Saiz.

He indicated that although there are "many newcomers to this type of competition" in the team, they felt "good" in a first match in a major tournament "always more complicated to release nerves and doubts." "For the first game we were good and in many moments we played good basketball both in attack and defense", he admitted.

GEORGIA: McFadden, Tsintsadze, Bitadze, Mamukelashvili y Shermadini --possible initial quintet-- Androkinashvili, Jintcharadze, Burjanadze, Bekauri, Sanadze, Bokoloshvili y Berishvili.

SPAIN: Brown, Jaime Fernández, López-Arostegui, Juancho Hernangómez and Willy Hernangómez --possible starting quintet--, Pradilla, Díaz, Brizuela, Rudy Fernández, Garuba, Parra and Sebas Saiz.

--PAVILLION: Tbilisi Arena.

--TIME: 18.30/Four.