Classic Games: Spain rock Greece in 2006 Final
MIES (Switzerland) - A remarkable FIBA Basketball World Cup Final was played in 2006, a title tilt that was stunning because of how comprehensive Spain's victory was over Greece in a battle of the unbeaten.
As part of our Classic Games series, this showdown for the crown will be streamed in full at 9PM CEST (GMT+2) on Thursday on FIBA's Facebook and YouTube channels.
Few could have predicted a lopsided affair that would be won by Spain, especially since the team coached by Pepu Hernandez did not have the services of the greatest player in their history, Pau Gasol. The superstar center was unavailable after breaking his foot in the 75-74 last-four triumph over Argentina just 48 hours earlier.
Greece, the FIBA EuroBasket 2005 winners who had shocked a star-laden USA, 101-95, in their Semi-Final, had looked like the team to beat.
Gasol's presence in the locker room and on the bench, however, seemed to galvanize his teammates, who showed no signs of fear or weakness without their talisman. If anything, they looked as strong as at any point in the tournament.
"IT WAS A SUPERB PERFORMANCE OF BASKETBALL - DEFENSIVELY, OFFENSIVELY. I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH FROM THE BENCH, I WAS JUST LIKE A LITTLE KID."
Spain had other greats that picked up the slack like Jorge Garbajosa and Juan Carlos Navarro. They jumped out to an 18-12 lead by the end of the first quarter and then took an unassailable grip on proceedings by half-time with a 43-23 advantage.
"We played with so much desire," Garbajosa said. "We made our shots and were straight back to cover on defense."
Garbajosa was in the clouds after the most important win Spain's history
Garbajosa, a complete, all-round talent who was headed for the NBA, ended up drilling 6 of 11 shots from behind the arc while Navarro, aka "La Bomba", buried 4 of 9 from deep.
Spain were so fast out of the gate that Greece, known for their patient, deliberate and never-say-die approach, were overrun. Their performance was in complete contrast to what the world had grown accustomed to since their European title run from the year before in Serbia and Montenegro.
When it was all said and done, Spain won 70-47. They had run roughshod over Greece for their first world title. Gasol, despite being hobbled by injury, celebrated his country's most famous triumph on the basketball court.
"It was a superb performance of basketball - defensively, offensively," Gasol said. "I enjoyed it so much from the bench, I was just like a little kid."
Gasol had been so good in the tournament that despite missing the Final, he was named as the MVP of the World Cup. All he cared about, though, was the title triumph.
"One of the highlights of my life, not just my career," Gasol said. "If I could be given the choice, I would have broken my foot every time to know that the outcome would have been that."
FIBA
