PUERTO MONTT (2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) – While many people thought it an upset when Spain defeated Canada 69-55 in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Chile, Australia coach Cheryl Chambers did not.

“We played them in the rounds and I certainly think they’re a really good team, so I am not surprised they are (in the Semi-Finals) at all,” she said ahead of the team’s clash in the on Saturday in Puerto Montt.

Canada coach Rich Chambers agreed. “They could have finished first in their group. They lost to France by two, led by six points against Australia late and blew it, and only lost to Brazil by a few. I think they could win the whole tournament.”

You can bet Spain coach Carlos Colinas will be watching video of that earlier game against Australia, trying to figure out how they “blew it”, and how they can reverse the result and claim a place in the gold medal game.

“Australia, we know them,” he said of the team they lost to 65-61 in the Eight-Finals. “Australia physically is a very powerful team, very strong and hard to match-up on.

“They have a lot of good players and a lot of options they can use, so this is maybe a team where we will have to play better than (if we were) against Japan.”

Australia enters the Semi-Finals on the back of centre Tayla Roberts, who scored a remarkable 41 points in their 92-83 win over Japan. “We structure our things around her because she is such a strong player. I think we have still got some other weapons, but tonight it was Tay, and most nights it's going to be Tay,” Chambers said.

She is also full of respect for Spain after the team’s close battle earlier in the tournament. “They’re tough,” Chambers said.
 
“They’ve got some great guards that can hit the three, they’ve got some players who can put it on the floor and get to the hole, and they’ve got some good post players, their strength is a little bit like ours.”

Roberts’ battle with in-form Spaniard Astou Ndour – who is averaging 17 ppg and 10 rpg in her last three games -  will be critical, while Spain also has an array of other talent led, by athletic wings Queralt Casas, Mariona Ortiz and Inmaculada Zanoguera (pictured), who will test Australia’s speed.

Australia will be confident entering the game, however. They led Spain by double figures in the first half of their Eight-Final encounter, only to let the Spaniards back into the contest with double figure missed lay-ups in the second half.
 
After giving up the lead, the Gems showed great resolve to win a tight game down the stretch, with small forward Rebecca Allen hitting the big shots.

Statistically, Australia score more points at a higher percentage than Spain, pull in more rebounds and dish off more assists, suggesting they are favourites for this encounter. Coach Colinas, however, knows his team is getting better and better.

“We know what we knew before the tournament, that it ends on 31 July. We have not lowered our arms,” he said of his team’s resolve despite losing games in the early rounds.

“Today, we have played the best game of this tournament so far.”

Colinas and Spain will be hoping the same is true on Saturday.

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA