The Spanish U20 women's team has resolved with a new victory its first commitment of the second phase of the European Championship against a combative Belgium by 46-67.
Nogaye Lo (14 points), Helena Orts and Leticia Romero – both with 13 points - were the top scorers of the José Ignacio Hernández team, while De Baets, with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, dazzled in the Belgian block.
After a hesitant start from both teams, Spain took control of the match thanks to the success of its interiors Nogaye Lo (eight points) and Helena Orts (six points and six rebounds), who imposed their power in the paint and, in this way, obtained an eight-point lead (10-18).
Belgium was not comfortable on the court and noticed the little contribution of the European top scorer, Abdelkader (ten points), very well defended by Marina Lizarazu, but woke up and led the Belgian reaction together with the game director De Baets (five points, three rebounds and two assists) to tighten the electronic at halftime (25-28).
In the restart, the Canary escort Leticia Romero assumed gallons in the game of Spain and put the maximum difference of the clash in the 12 points to less than two minutes for the conclusion of the third period (31-43), with a recital of points, assists and rebounds.
Romero's recital (13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists) continued in the last act, well seconded by an immense Nogaye Lo to extend the score to 15 points (36-51), bringing Spain closer to its fourth consecutive victory.
However, Heleen Nauwelaers and De Baets, with two consecutive triples, fueled the Belgian dream to just over three minutes for the conclusion of the last act (43-54), but Flores, Orts and again Romero dealt a definitive blow to Belgium after a forceful partial 3-13, placing the final (46-67).
The interior Nogaye Lo stated that "Belgium is a great team that knew how to stop us in the first half, but in the third quarter we started to play as we know and we were able to solve it".
"We knew each other after having measured ourselves in the preparation," Lo said.
About the duel against Holland tomorrow Tuesday, starting at 6.30 pm in the Pavilion of Teguise, the pivot of Mann Filter advanced that he expects "a different match because they have a great pivot and a huge collective game. We are very clear that we will have to work very well".
