In-form Spain target basketball glory in Dubai

Dubai: Spain coach Carlos Ortega said his team could spring surprise at the Fiba Under-17 World Basketball Championship, which takes place in Dubai from Friday, after winning a warm-up event.

Spain beat Greece 70-63 in the final of the six-team friendly competition at the Hamdan Sports Complex late on Monday.

The Spaniards had earlier beaten Lebanon 113-28 and Egypt 111-59 to top Group B, before playing Greece in the final, who topped Group A after beating Bahrain 109-44 and hosts UAE 108-33.

Spain finished fourth at the last Fiba U17 World Championship — an event the USA have won in the only two previous stagings — but, based on recent form, Ortega believes they could now cause an upset.

“For me, the target is gold, but there are very good teams,” Ortega told Gulf News. “The best possible finish would be the final and the USA may be the favourite, but Spain is also a possible.”

Ortega added that victory in the warm-up tournament proved his players were on course for a good showing at the world championships.

“This was a last opportunity to look at the players and see if they are ready for the finals. Arriving in Dubai ten days before the tournament allowed the players to acclimatise with conditions. I’m very happy, but then again every coach will feel the same heading into the tournament.”

Greece boss Dimitrios Papanikolaou said defeat in the warm-up tournament final meant very little.

“It was an exhibition game, we tried some things and some players are still to join us, but this has been good preparation and we will be better for it in the official games.

“The target is to play game by game, position by position. We want to play good basketball and enjoy our tournament, after that we will see. The target is to be in the last eight and after that, if we have a chance, we’ll see.”

Sixteen teams split into four groups of four will compete in this year’s Under-17 World Championship. Matches will be played at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Emirates Road and the Al Ahli and Al Shabab stadiums in Al Ghusais.