They were very close. They stayed one step away. They already saw it. But when it was time to finish off the job came the collapse. The light went out for Spain when the gold was almost around its neck and Belgium climbed to the top of the podium. The Spanish had to settle for silver when they had led by up to ten points well into the third quarter. But in the last act, Miguel Méndez’s team faded. Tournament star Meesseman (24 points) and Linskens (18) were vital. Spain returns to the drawer after getting out of it in 2021 but could not avoid a certain bittersweet taste. Not surprisingly, the first Belgian advantage did not come until minute 36.
Belgium appeared in the first final in its history with Meesseman absolutely in the vein of hits. The experienced Spain landed back in a territory that she knows very well with teamwork as the main exponent. Belgium had been an offensive cyclone. Spain a defensive hammer and a choir in attack. Different styles that were contrasted from the beginning. Meesseman stung the hoop with his versatility, but Miguel Méndez’s team multiplied his assist system and the other Belgian players remained neutralized.
With their hands, with their bodies, with whatever, Spain collected ball recoveries, precious possessions to mark the line of the match. In the other part of the track, Alba Torrens emerged promptly, in a much less glittering version than in the semifinals. But Spain, in this championship, was not depending on a single player. She took the witness Raquel Carrera, she lived under the hoops when it came to capturing offensive rebounds and transforming them into points. Or Queralt Casas, very successful shooting and penetrating. The Bescanó base reached the intermission with 11 points and the saddlebag of confidence to the maximum. From the beginning, electronic Spain took the reins. With distances not very wide but significant.
Especially since the Spanish had managed to hinder the offensive maneuvers of Belgium, which found a vein of diversification with some action by Vanloo and the stout Linskens. Despite this, Spain finished in front in the first quarter (17-13).
The changes did not lower the Spanish tone. The illustrious Silvia Domínguez came out to lead the operations and Paula Ginzo pointed out the same manner as in the semifinals. The second triple by Queralt Casas raised the lead (24-15 minute 14) and the alarms went off in a bewildered Belgium. Vanloo came to the rescue but another triple, now from Maite Cazorla, made Spain go to the snack with good feelings (32-25).
Some vibrations that multiplied later because Spain found new protagonists, like Leonor Rodríguez, author of 7 almost consecutive points. She celebrated the Spanish bench and in minute 29 Méndez’s team saw the sky clear (48-38). But from here came the great blackout in attack. There was no way to regain fluency. And although in Belgium only four players scored, it was enough for them with the regularity of a huge Linskens and the inevitable Meesseman to first get in the neck of Spain and then to turn the score around. A triple by the Belgian figure put Belgium ahead for the first time in the 36th minute. Although Alba Torrens put Spain on top again, it would be the last spark. In the final eleven minutes, the Spanish only scored ten points. At the worst moment, gold escaped.
