Belgium and Spain played out a FIBA Women’s EuroBasket final for the ages in Piraeus, Greece, as the game surpassed anything we could have expected in a rematch of their 2023 gold medal encounter.
Only instead of a final-quarter burst in Ljubljana in 2023, the Belgians produced the final three minutes of their careers to edge the final 67-65 against Spain in the most dramatic of circumstances.
With 2:43 to play, the story looked to be played out differently with Spain looking comfortable, up 65-53.
But with a little more than two minutes to play, a triple from Kyara Linskens sparked an incredible 14-0 finish culminating in a steal from Antonia Delaere off a Mariona Ortiz turnover with seven seconds left, which Delaere finished off to mass hysteria.
Spain had a chance with five seconds left, but Raquel Carrera traveled. Cue the scenes and noise from the Belgian players and fans that echoed around Piraeus.
Emma Meesseman finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners, who repeat as champions. She threw in seven assists and five steals for good measure. Linskens led Belgium with 17, going 7-for-9 from the floor.
Paula Ginzo and Aina Ayuso both amassed 11 points for Spain, but the four-time winners will have to wait for a fifth title.
Nearly 8,000 fans inside the Peace and Friendship Stadium witnessed a big game experience that could be felt regardless if you were in the arena or watching at home.
The first half was gritty and high-octane, typical for a final and a match-up of its magnitude.
Spain maintained the lead it had held for the majority, but despite ten lead changes in the first 20 minutes, Belgium was not far behind.
The Belgians had turned a 37-31 half-time deficit into a 52-49 third-quarter gap, leaving the final on a knife-edge, their crown still within reach but slipping.
And when it came down to it, Spain sat at the card table and played their hand, while Belgium played a risky game – reading the play and making their move at the right moment.
It nearly backfired. With two minutes to play, they trailed by nine, and Spain looked assured of lifting the trophy.
However, in international basketball, you must always expect the unexpected.
And as the final buzzer sounded, Belgium celebrated; Spain was left stunned, having dropped 14 points without reply in less than three minutes in the biggest game of them all, with all their players asking themselves…
How did that just happen?
Italy’s long wait for a medal ends
Italy’s 30-year wait for a podium spot came to an end as they beat France 69-54 for the bronze medal.
For the Italians, utter jubilation at the final buzzer, having defied expectations from the group phase onwards. The heart, grit, and passion flowed like a fine Vermentino under the Tuscan sun in the summer months.
And they served up their best performance for last. Cecilia Zandalasini put up 20 points, three assists, three steals, and two blocks, showcasing her skill set at both ends of the floor and masterminding their deserved bronze medal reward.
“There is a lot of emotion and been waiting for this moment for many years,” Zandalasini said.
“This is my fifth Women’s EuroBasket, so we always wanted to do great things, but it is such a challenge with great opponents.
“I am overwhelmed that we ended up with this medal. This is the best day of my life.”
While Italy’s long wait ended, France’s 16-year search for gold will continue.
Considered by many to be the favorites for the tournament, strengthened by their dominant performances in pool play, France’s one-dimensional offense proved to be their undoing.
From shooting a solid 44.7% from three-point land leading up to the semi-finals, France went on to have a nightmare in their final two contests in the area they seemed to thrive.
In the last two encounters against Spain and then the bronze medal game against Italy, France went a combined 7-for-50 from deep.
In the battle for third, Italy’s shot selection was smarter and more composed. They went 7-for-15 from beyond the arc.
Simply put, Italy made the right shots at the right time.
The Italians led for the vast majority of the first half, keeping France at bay before racing away in the third, taking their first double-digit lead four minutes into the third at 50-38.
France, desperate to plead their case, fought back to reduce the deficit with five minutes left, reducing the gap to 56-51, but a triple from Zandalasini gave Italy breathing room for good.
Elsewhere, Türkiye kept their hopes of a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup spot alive with a 99-87 success over Lithuania in the classification game for seventh.
Sevgi Uzun and Teaira McCowan both posted 22 points for Türkiye as they dropped Lithuania out of next year’s World Cup contention.
Germany bested Czechia 81-70 in the battle for fifth.
Photo: FIBA
Quotes from the final to follow.
