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jul 19 2026Spain's U20 team mounted a comeback after trailing by 19 points, but couldn't complete the rally against Serbia (65-72) in the Eurobasket U20 semifinals.
Spain will need to regroup quickly to finish the Eurobasket U20 with a medal. The team coached by Carles Marco fell to Serbia 65-72 in a game marked by a sluggish start and will face France on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in the bronze medal match.
Spain got off to a slow start. Serbia capitalized on Spain's poor shooting to build a considerable lead from the opening quarter, which ended at an alarming 11-25. The 1/5 shooting from two-point range and, especially, the 2/13 from three-point distance explained much of Spain's offensive struggles.
The Balkan squad enjoyed a 19-point advantage (11-30) at one point, led by Mitar Bosnjakovic and Andrej Lucic. The former Real Madrid academy player finished with 17 points, while Lucic was Serbia's leading scorer with 20.
Spain, however, didn't give up. They elevated their defensive intensity, found better offensive opportunities, and gradually closed the gap with Iker Garmendia as their primary reference point. His 16 points kept a team alive that got within three points with less than four minutes remaining (59-62).
Álex Blanco even had a three-point attempt to tie the game, but couldn't find the basket. Serbia responded to Spain's moment of greatest pressure with an 8-0 run that definitively halted the comeback and left Spain without a chance to reach the final.
Gold is no longer possible, but the team can still leave the championship on the podium. France will be the final obstacle to securing a bronze medal that would be the third of the summer for the Spanish Basketball Federation.
