Spain Glides Into Beijing Olympic Games

SPAIN 82 – CUBA 68

Spain came out with a vengeance, trying to finish the game as soon as posible. Amaya Valdemoro scored a 5-0 run all by herself early in the game but Alberto Zabala’s team didn’t allow such an early knockout and responded with a  Jakelyne Plutín’s 5-0 run. Then both teams, who weren’t fortunate in the offense, thanks partly to the tough defenses, traded baskets ‘til the end of the first, which ended 17-16 for Spain

The second round was also about trading. Elisa Aguilar warned everybody she was in the game and five straight points from the point guard put Spain ahead 26-21 in the first three minutes. With 2:30 minutos remaining for the break Spain finally manager to do a run, 7-0, to put themselves 37-30 up with less then a minute and a half for the interval. However Cuba would react and got into two points, 37-35, after a three pointer from Yakelyne Plutón with 20” for the break. Laia Palau closed the scoring in the half with a jumper for the final 39-35 for Spain

Spain began the second half with an  8-2 run, 37-47, (Scoring Montañana and Valdemoro 4 apiece) in the first five minutes. Both teams still struggled to score, though. Cuba closed the gap  to six points,  41-47. Elisa Aguilar began then playing the second act of her show. She hit the three and with two freebies from Amaya Valdemoro would recover the double digit margin and Cuba won’t get closer than six points during the rest of the game thanks in a big part to Spain’s improved defense.

Elisa Aguilar continued her own show scoring the last five points from Spain in the third, sending the game to the fourth quarter with Spain 59-50 ahead. In that quarter Spain dominated the game completely. Aguilar would shine again scoring 9 points in the quarter and guiding Spain’s ship on the court.

Cuba got into seven points but then again Aguilar scored from the perimeter and Amaya Valdemoro scored a fastbreak layup to close the game. After five minutes in the fourth, and with 62-71 in the scoreboard, Spain did a final 7-0 run capped by Alba Torrens and leaving Cuba scoreless during more than two minutes to cruise to a final 68-82 victory and a ticket to Beijing Olimpics

Elisa Aguilar had 28 pts, handed out 4 assists and grabbed four rebounds, Amaya Valdemoro scored 18 pts, Laia Palau 11 and Anna Montañana 10.

For Cuba Yayma Boulet had 16 pts, Yulizeny Soria 15 and Yakelyn Plutín 14.