ANTWERP (Belgium) – Spain men arrived at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 with a renewed squad and something to prove after a disappointing FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 campaign. On Day 1 in Antwerp, they delivered the perfect response: two wins, including victories over Italy and the Netherlands.
For Diego De Blas, however, the results were only part of the story.
"Both games were very challenging, and that's exactly what we expected coming into the tournament," De Blas said. "We did a great job defensively in both matchups, which was key to getting the wins."
Spain's defense provided the platform for a pair of significant results against two established 3x3 basketball programs. Rather than relying on individual brilliance, the team leaned on their collective approach. That's an important sign for a group that have undergone a period of renewal. That chemistry, of course, has not happened by accident.
"We have been practicing for this event together. We all know each other well, which helps create strong chemistry on the court," De Blas said.
That familiarity was evident on Day 1 as Spain handled two demanding games and remained composed when the margins tightened. Their approach is deliberately straightforward: take each game as it comes and maintain the same level of preparation and intensity.
"Our approach is simple," De Blas explained. "Take it game by game, stay focused and be ready to compete at our highest level every time we step onto the court."
There is also a deeper motivation behind Spain's campaign. The team entered Antwerp after the disappointment of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, where they were unable to defend the world title they won in 2025. For De Blas, that result provided motivation, but he explained that it was not a reason to abandon the process that brought Spain success in the first place.
"Of course it did," he said when asked whether Warsaw provided extra motivation. "It's always easier when everything is going your way, but the most important thing is to keep doing the same work regardless of the results."
That mentality has seemingly carried into Antwerp. Spain's new-look group have already shown they can compete with two of the tournament's strongest teams, but De Blas is not looking beyond the next challenge. The objective remains to keep improving, stay committed to the process and bring their best game every time they step onto the court.
Day 1 could hardly have gone better. Now Spain have to prove it was only the beginning. They next face France in the Quarter-Finals.
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