Spain suffers a heartbreaking loss in the Eurobasket final against Belgium (65-67).

A team of golden women won a silver medal, which, however, felt very bittersweet. The women’s basketball team lost in the final seconds of the Eurobasket against Belgium, 65-67, when victory was within reach. Spain enjoyed a one-point lead with 17 seconds left, but a turnover between Mariona Ortiz and Alba Torrens with 8 seconds remaining allowed Belgium to make an unexpected comeback, having previously trailed by 12 points: the devastating final stretch was 0-14 in just three minutes. Desolation spread across Spain as it felt like they had let gold slip away instead of securing a highly valuable silver medal.

This is the 15th medal for the women’s team in 25 major tournaments this century, a remarkable period considering they had only reached the podium once before, winning the inaugural European gold in 1993. In the La Paz and Friendship Pavilion of Piraeus, basketball delivered a harsh lesson to a team in development, amidst a rapid generational shift that only looked toward maturing and growing for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. But Spain doesn’t know how to play unless it’s to win, and they ended up facing their nemesis, Belgium, who triumphed in the 2023 Eurobasket final and eliminated them in the quarterfinals of the Paris Games. This time they almost fell, and it was only the nerves of poorly-played final minutes that left the team without the biggest prize. Meesseman was again the MVP with 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. Spain finished in tears.

The battle began inside. Awa Fam and Raquel Carrera started together. Méndez had both of his best interior players ready to battle under the basket against Meesseman and Linskens. However, it was the eternal Alba Torrens who opened the scoring with a mid-range shot. The team defended well and forced Belgian players into difficult shots and misses from beyond the arc. Meesseman scored her team’s first basket on a fast break nearly three minutes in. The Belgian star began to ignite, scoring and creating plays. Fam responded from the perimeter, showcasing her potential from every angle. Who would have thought she was only 19 and making her debut in a major tournament? Pueyo and Delaere exchanged successful shots from the perimeter, and Raquel Carrera appeared to do it all. The first quarter was a constant back-and-forth thanks to both teams’ diverse attacking capabilities and relentless defense (19-18).

Belgium plays as one with its starting five and looks different when the second unit comes in. The difference is evident, much more so than in the Spanish team, which maintains its high intensity even while rotating players. Their game is more collective, more orchestral than soloistic. No team felt comfortable running against the solid rearguard of both defensive systems. Paula Ginzo scored for Spain, showcasing her footwork for a reverse layup and sharpening her wrist from beyond the arc. Belgium continued to struggle as they moved away from the basket (3 of 15 from the field by halftime), lacking one of their best weapons and the connection between Meesseman and Linskens. The attack flowed much better through Méndez’s group, who were supportive and patient in finding the best route to the basket: Ginzo in the low post, Andrea Vilaró open for a three-pointer, Raquel Carrera on a fast break for a two-plus-one, or Alba Torrens when it was time to play for the final possession before the break, a pause that Spain reached brimming with confidence (37-31).

Everyone in the La Paz and Friendship Pavilion of Piraeus knew that gold depended on defense. A few lapses by the team allowed Belgium to string together a couple of runs, scoring easy baskets and closing the gap on the scoreboard. Mariona Ortiz salvaged a desperate possession with a drive as the Belgian team was then suffocating in its defense, and the imposing Meesseman steadily added to her stat line on both ends. Containing the star when she drives to the basket is a titanic task. A three-pointer from Vanloo flipped the score during a moment of confusion for Spain (42-45). But this group always comes back, as in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic, as in the semifinals against France. Giving up isn’t in their vocabulary. A swarming defense and the energy of Aina Ayuso and Elena Buenavida got the Spanish team back in control before the last pause (52-49).

Spain had surrendered the Eurobasket 2023 final to the same rival while they were on the verge of an improbable gold. That memory hardened the team’s competitive nature even though they arrived with many changes this time. The defeat was not forgotten, and the Spanish team entered the final quarter with the conviction that each rival basket required a superhuman effort. A three-pointer from Ayuso and a fast break from Pueyo following a steal provided a little more breathing room, expanding the lead to 12 points (63-51). Everything seemed aligned for Spanish gold, but the harshness of competition revealed the team’s inexperience. Belgium unleashed all its firepower, and Spain’s hands trembled. A 0-14 run was a monumental punishment for a generation with a bright future ahead.