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 appeared 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 objectives, together with 4 of 6 from deep, on his approach 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 recreation we actually weren’t ourselves,” Aldama admitted. “That’s most likely the toughest half, realizing you didn’t do what you’ll be able to management. On the finish of the day, if we play our basketball with the required self-discipline and vitality, I feel we’re in an excellent spot.”
Willy Hernangómez chipped in 16 factors together with his trademark effectivity across the rim, whereas Dario Brizuela added 15 factors and 5 assists.
“We knew we wanted to step up in the present day,” Brizuela mentioned afterward. “I feel we did on protection and rebounding and we ran and shared the ball so much. We’re completely happy about it however we nonetheless have three video games to win.”
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenan Kamenjaš led the staff with 14 factors, whereas star middle Jusuf Nurkić was restricted to simply 10.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain’s exterior taking pictures was the nice separator. They knocked down 15 three-pointers at a 39 % clip, spreading the ground and making Bosnia chase all night time.
On the similar time, their protection smothered the Dragons’ perimeter recreation, holding them to simply 3-of-21 from past the arc – a frigid 14 %. 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 might additionally play a vital function later, offsetting their 14-point opening loss to Georgia in potential tie-breaker situations.
They subsequent face Cyprus on Sunday, coming into that matchup with restored confidence.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the meantime, face a frightening check of resilience. Their subsequent opponent is Italy, the very staff that toppled Georgia.
Coach Aziz Bekir mirrored candidly: “We aren’t pleased with the rating and we’re not pleased with the best way that we performed. We’re completely happy that we gave our most vitality. However we didn’t play intelligent.”
They Mentioned
Coach Sergio Scariolo summed up the efficiency: “We began with vitality, with focus, with depth. We performed a number of minutes of fine basketball. We took 38 three-point photographs, which is extraordinarily vital for us. And 25 assists was an enormous quantity. And we had good staff contribution.”
Bosnia’s gamers confused the necessity to rapidly flip the web page.
Amar Alibegović put it bluntly: “With these video games in competitions like this you’ll be able to’t take into consideration the previous. You need to hold going. We now have one other Last tomorrow. We now have to return 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 recreation, a tricky opponent. Spain is a very good staff. We have to overlook this recreation as a result of we performed unhealthy. We simply want to repair what we have to do higher within the subsequent recreation towards Italy. That is a vital recreation.”
Spain bounce again with first victory ✅https://t.co/NO3st4M9dv
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 30, 2025
