Pic credit: FIBA

Germany´s quest for a medal at the 2026 U-20 Euro was halted by Spain who won 88-69 in the quarter final match. Germany was in the game in the first half, but Spain heightened up their game at both ends in the second half building on their lead and continued to hold a double figure lead for the most part. Spain played beautiful team basketball led by ex FC Barcelona guard Raul Villar (190-G-2007) who demonstrated the perfect mix between scoring and finding his teammates at the right moments scoring 16 points and dishing out 12 dimes. Germany once again had problems on the boards getting outrebounded and they couldn´t come to terms with the aggressive Spanish defense that forced Germany to 17 turnovers. Spain had 4 guys score in double figures while Germany had two guys score in double figurers with Davi Remagen and Musa Abra. Germany got on the board first with a Julis Baumer (Ludwigsburg) lay in, but it didn´t take Spain long to find their groove as Raul Villar got hot scoring 3 baskets and showing his immense talent of finding many different ways to score with a fade away jumper, lay in and floater for the 8-4 Spain lead. However Germany then had their first run of the game taking the 17-13 lead thanks to a 13-5 run as they let it rain three´s. Germany connected three times from the parking lot as ex Orange Academy guard Jordan Muller, Jena forward Daniel Biel and Erfurt guard Musa Abra all scored. But Germany couldn´t hold the momentum as Spain struck back with a 9-5 run to dead lock the game at 22-22 after 10 minutes. 203cm forward Adrian Torres scored twice while Villar also scored again and 206cm forward Jorge Carot of Valencia Basket U22 team also scored inside as Germany couldn´t handle the physicality of Spain as well.

Germany took the brief lead in the first minute of the second quarter with a Baumer lay in and Muller free throws to lead 26-24, but Spain retrieved the lead back and would never look back again the whole game. Carot continued to be a work horse scoring 4 points while Spain also hit from outside from Bruno Alocen from Indiana State University (NCAA) for the 32-28 advantage. Germany then made another run of 7-2 from Biel and Kodjoe who had been the top scorers from the first game against Italy. Kodjoe found his range from outside while Biel scored twice inside and with a powerful dunk to tie the game at 35-35. The game continued to be a game of runs as now Spain struck back again with a forceful 8-2 run to lead 43-37 at the break. In the run of Spain, the team found their shooters again as Alex Blanco of Valencia Basket U22 team and Jorge Arias of Alimerka Oviedo Baloncesto (Primera FEB) scored. Blanco wasn´t done yet in the second quarter as he scored inside to close out the first half. It also didn´t help Germany´s come back attempt that Muller and Lars Lenke missed two free throws.

In the third quarter Spain did a great job holding the lead, but Germany didn´t give up. They were able to cut it down to as much as 4 points, but they just couldn´t get over the hump. Whenever Germany was getting close, Spain always had an answer and were able to punch back and led 65-52 after 30 minutes. After Muller and Carot traded buckets to start the second half, Spain then set the tone again going on a 8-2 run to extend their lead to 53-41. Villar and Carot carried the team with buckets while Iker Garmedia of Elon University (NCAA) took advantage of Davi Remagen´s turnover and went transition for the dunk. But Germany continued to have solutions on offense and went on a 8-0 run to trail only 53-49. In the Germany run, the team stayed aggressive drawing fouls and getting free throws from Baumer and Lenke while Remagen dropped a trey with 4,00 minutes to play. But Spain always had an answer and really put a dagger into Germany´s heart as they closed out the third quarter with a 12-3 run to have the commanding 13 point lead. In the run, Spain was led by Adrien Torres who was a beast supplying 8 points on two three´s and a vicious alley-oop dunk. Villar once again showed his knack to get a ticket to the free throw line and Carot scored on transition. Spain moved the ball really well and Germany had difficulty finding solutions to cover the three point line better.

In the fourth quarter both teams found their offensive rhythm right away as Torres and Alocen connected from downtown while Germany did the same getting three´s from Bruno Loll of Rostock and Musa Abra. However Germany was unable to make any real ground as they still trailed 73-61. Spain then slammed the door on Germany for good cruising out on a 10-2 run to lead 83-63. In the Spain run, it was Alocen and Carot who led the show as the first added 6 points including a trey while Carot continued to be a force in the paint area getting 2 buckets with 3,35 to play. The game was decided and Germany put in some of their bench guys as ex Ornage Academy guard Jervis Scheffs produced a trey while Alba Berlin guard Noah Isichei scored on the drive. Garmendia also added a trey for good measure giving Spain 10 for the game. Spain had 4 guys score in double figures as Jorge Carot led all scorers with 18 points and 9 boards while Adrian Torres produced 17 points and 9 rebounds. Germany was led by Musa Abra with 11 points while Davi Remagen had 10 points. Spain shot 46% from the field and 32% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Germany shot 42% from the field and 35% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 17 turnovers.