Defending champs start preparation with win; Aldama debuts, Juancho lights scoreboard
MIES (Switzerland) - Spain, champions of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, began their preparation plans for their title defense campaign with a win over Venezuela on August 4 at the WiZink Center.
MIES (Switzerland) - Spain, champions of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, began their preparation plans for their title defense campaign with a win over Venezuela on August 4 at the WiZink Center in Madrid.
The game was attended by over 10,000 fans as they watched the home team win 87-57 against the visitors.
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This was Spain's first official tuneup game in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. It was also the first game at the senior national team level for Santi Aldama who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.
📹 Hablan los PROTAGONISTAS de #LaFamilia 🙌
— Baloncesto España (@BaloncestoESP) August 5, 2023
🎙️ El debutante @santialdama y @juanchiviris41 🔝#SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/YKTl16uy3S
The former U18 European Championship 2019 MVP was quick to make his presence known in the debut with a quick two dunks and a three-pointer in the first half. Aldama ended up with 16 points in 16 minutes for the game.
📹Así se debuta con #LaFamilia‼️
— Baloncesto España (@BaloncestoESP) August 4, 2023
Qué barbaridad, @santialdama 💪
🇪🇸🆚🇻🇪 (Min. 7 | 21-15)
📌 @wizinkcenter
📺@La1_tve#LaFamilia #SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/QMwMo42ZHt
However, the star of the game was Juancho Hernangomez who poured in 27 points in the big win.
Spain will also play against Slovenia, USA, Canada, and the Dominican Republic in a pair of tournaments before heading to Jakarta to tip off their World Cup campaign.
The defending champions are in Group G along with Iran, Cote d'Ivoire, and Brazil.
FIBA