Spain claims U20 European gold

Spain prevailed over Lithuania in Helsinki and is the new U20 European Championships title holder, replacing Serbia at the top of the U20 game in Europe. The Spanish took gold with a convincing 55-68 win in the showpiece game. Victory handed the Iberian nation a second U20 European Championships success after victory in 2011.

A loss for Lithuania meant the nation missed out on a third title and sits in a band of five nations (including Spain) on two tournament wins.

The final can perhaps best be described as a contest in which the starting teams made the difference. Spain’s starters scored a modest 38 points, more or less splitting scoring duties with 30 points from the bench. However, Lithuania’s starting five was miserable at the bucket, managing just 11 points. The bench dutifully stood in with 44 points, but the disparity made the difference.

The first quarter was suitably tense considering there were young heads on court playing in a major international final. The teams traded baskets and locked the scoreboard on 17-17 through the first frame. Lithuania gained an advantage early in the second period, but Spain soon found a scoring rhythm. A 15-23 run in the quarter put the Spaniards firmly in charge through the long break, 32-40 on the board.

Lithuania hustled in defence in the third act, stopping Spain at 12 points. It came at the cost of consistent scoring though and 14 points back cut the deficit, but it was still 46-52 through thirty minutes. From there it was as if the Lithuanians lost hope, the momentum was not enough to carry into Q4. Instead, Spain plundered 16 points and stopped their opponents on 9 points for an impressive finish to the U20 European Championships.

Marc Garcia led the Spanish attack with 21 points, but it Ramon Vila who really stood out with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Ignas Fiodorovas lead Lithuania with 13 points, while Kristupas Zemaitis managed 11 points.