There is something difficult to explain in this selection, even for those who are part of it. This ability to grow and achieve what no one expects when the precipice appears. Spain was Spain again in Jakarta and even that wasn’t enough to keep them alive in the World Cup in which they were defending gold. Despite the almost heroic effort, it was not enough against the powerful Canada in a duel of power against power, sequences and heart, in which the team once again lacked offensive momentum at the moment of truth, in another final quarter like a conviction. , the lesson to be learned. And yet, there wasn’t much missing from the distressing triple Abrines to bring this wonderful clash into overtime. [85-88: Narración y estadísticas]

If against Latvia on Friday he was a caricature, against Canada on Sunday he found his scathing version. Voracious competitors, hungry wolves who nevertheless pack their bags and will have to look for a ticket for the pre-Olympic Games next summer. The Canada of Jordi Fernándezwho has suffered a lot, who has sometimes been overwhelmed by Spanish self-esteem, is already on his way to Manila, where he will face Slovenia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The work was very complicated, breaking down a wall like the Canadian, NBA physicists, world-class talents like this devil we call Shai Gilgeous-Alexander whose pulse was not going to tremble during the free throws at the end, the culmination of a magnificent work. At the Indonesia Arena, Spain saved unsuspected exploits, honored the history of a legendary team, drew its references for the future, enormous Santi Aldamabut ends up shedding tears, exhausted and paralyzed in a last act where the necessary hero did not appear, Lull (touched) and Juanchoon the bench.

Very quickly, it was another Spain. It could not be otherwise. If you were to die, it would be with your head held high. It is the DNA that makes us unique, respected and feared. It was the fang of great days, the nerve, the hardness, the concentration. And a plan. Opens on Shai, zone defenses, FIBA ​​traps against Canadian talent.

Willy’s points

It’s on defense. In attack, it was a question of boldness, of undoing the mental block displayed by many against Latvia. and search Willie, once again at the center of everything, gigantic despite two rivals in this NBA who did not end up accepting it while trying to stop it. Despite a terrible level of harshness, Spain resisted the Canadian challenge. Willy did some damage early and Aldama finally unleashed his talent, threw without thinking and showed the dimension he could achieve. The offensive rebound, a symptom of desire, was oxygen.

This tie made Jordi Fernández’s team nervous, too impetuous, constant fouls, going beyond physical limits, guys as tough as Dillon Brooks. And that their offensive credentials stood out, of course, despite Spanish surveillance. Barrett He scored 11 points in the first act and Shai was already a demon. When they managed to escape, they formed an unstoppable torrent.

Spain would soon take over the sensations and the scoreboard, a huge second act. Abrines’ triples, which marked an unforgettable evening, and Willy’s points in the paint had an impact on Canada, which found itself trailing 10 at halftime (48-38) after a beautiful basket of Brizuela.

The referees

But Canada could still raise the bar of aggressiveness higher and thus returned from the locker room, imposing its athletic qualities and leading Spain astray, also entangled in improbable refereeing decisions. In two minutes, he had committed five fouls, penalizing Juancho (3, he was not going to return to the field) and Abrines (4), throwing all the previous work to the ground and allowing the return of the North Americans, who found themselves in control long after the score (52-55), with techniques to Scariolo And Rudy on the road.

In this moment of total crisis, the Spanish heart reappeared. It was Rudy and these little details that changed the course of battles. A three-pointer, a forced attack foul. Brizuela’s self-confidence, if necessary. And the very powerful emergence of Santi Aldama, two triples and one of those companions who will be remembered for a lifetime. And the fireworks of a devastating end to the third quarter, deadly Spain reappearing, a partial 21-6 for the maximum (73-61). All topped off with a game that is a trademark of Spain, a prodigious defense, torpedoing every rival pass until it turns into a nightmare, flying, running and finishing Garuba with a very powerful alley oop.

And even under this succession of blows, Canada did not bend its knees. He raised the anxiety with an 8-0 return, two triples and a few hits from Dillon Brooks, who would become the unexpected protagonist. Everything was doomed to agony. And the offensive jam was going to be a nightmare for Spain.

Because, suddenly, she was paralyzed, cowering in front of the rival defense. Canada managed another point-by-point comeback, without concessions. The last basket in play was scored by Aldama six long minutes from the end, while Spain was still dreaming of the quarter-finals. Another triple from Brooks and a “Jordanian” basket from Gilgeous-Alexander restored the advantage to a Canada that was not going to let it go, despite Núñez’s basket and Aldama’s triple. Spain died on the brink of another final quarter to forget.