SPAIN - Blending in youth

The host nation of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women won a place in Beijing while giving opportunities to young and promising players. The core of the Spanish side that captured silver at last year's EuroBasket is still together.

When Spain captured a silver medal at last year's EuroBasket Women in Italy, they instantly became one of the leading contenders to claim one of five spots for the Beijing Games at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. After being named as hosts for the 12-team event to be staged in June, they became clear favourites to reach China. But Spain's Amaya Valdemoro, the MVP of last year's tournament in Chieti, was taking nothing for granted. "It is going to be a hard tournament, but we're going to do everything in our power to reach Beijing," she said before the tournament.

In 2007, Spain looked as good ever. Under veteran coach Evaristo Pérez, who was leading the National Team for the first time, Spain stormed into a title showdown with Russia after victories over Belgium and Belarus in the quarter- and semi-finals. Opponents struggled to keep pace with Spain when they increased the tempo. Once in the championship game, they trailed by 21 points late in the second quarter but staged a dramatic second-half comeback. Spain closed the gap to four and Valdemoro had a chance to cut the deficit even more but missed a lay-up with 21 seconds remaining and Russia eventually won 74-68. Despite the defeat, the performance against Russia left many with the impression that the Spanish will challenge for a place on the podium in China

Spain have won medals at the last four EuroBaskets to become an established power on the continent. When center Betty Cebrian and power forward Marina Ferragut retired, there was an element of gloom. Yet Valdemoro and the generation of players born in 1976 made sure Spain were among the leading European sides. Now younger players are emerging.

Pérez has included three members of the 1989 generation in this year's team: Alba Torrens, Tamara Abalde and Laura Nicholls. He has also added María Revuelto. That foursome, Pérez is hoping, will blend in with the eight players he has retained from the team that won silver last year. They are Elisa Aguilar, Laia Palau and Valdemoro, Nuria Martinez and Isabel Sánchez, plus Anna Montañana, Lucila Pascua and Cindy Lima.

Marta Fernandez, a star from the 2004 Olympic team, did not play last summer due to injury and despite returning to full fitness, was not named in the preliminary squad. Silvia Domínguez, a member of Spain's squad at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Brazil (she was also last year's MVP of Spain's gold medal win at the U20 European Championship) was named in the 14-strong preliminary squad along with shooting guard Anna Cruz but both failed to make the final cut.

The youngsters should gain valuable experience by practicing and playing alongside veterans like Valdemoro.

What kind of team does Pérez have? Aguilar and Martínez have contrasting styles as point guards. Aguilar brings more directing skills and three-pointers while Martínez is a tough defender that can also score. Palau could play some minutes at the point, too, which is possibly why Pérez opted to pass on Domínguez for a second straight summer. A calf injury plagued Valdemoro all season with her club team CSKA Moscow. Sánchez will come off the bench to play shooting guard or possibly to give Valdemoro a breather. The youngsters could also eat up minutes if small forward Valdemoro needs to be off the floor.

In the frontcourt, Montañana is one of the best fast-breaking forwards in the game. In half-court or in transition, she will launch shots from behind the arc. She was an impressive nine of 20 last year in Italy. Lima and Pascua will both look to score in and around the paint, or after grabbing offensive rebounds. Lima was an important player coming off the bench last year, which was reflected in the big number of minutes she spent on the floor against Belgium (17) in the quarter-finals and Russia (19) in the title game. Pascua is a real fighter for rebounds as well. She pulled down almost six per game last year in Italy.


How did they qualify?
EuroBasket 2007
Silver Medal (7 W - 2 L)

Preliminary Round
Sept-24th 2007    Spain b. Belarus    76-62
Sept-25th 2007    Spain b. Serbia    79-76
Sept-26th 2007    Spain b. Croatia    62-52

Qualifying Round
Sept-29th 2007    Spain b. Italy    79-64
Oct-1st 2007    Spain b. France    63-53
Oct-3rd 2007    Russia b. Spain    64-49

Quarter-finals
Oct-5th 2007    Spain b. Belgium    72-53

Semi-finals
Oct-6th 2007    Spain b. Belarus    70-54

Final
Oct-7th 2007    Russia b. Spain    74-68


Olympic Qualifying Tournament
2 W - 1 D

Preliminary round
June 9th 2008    Spain b. Fiji    113-42
June11th 2008    Brazil b. Spain    71-68

Quarter-final
June13th 2008    Spain b. Cuba    82-68