The first experience of Gang, this is the updated version of Family, this European basketball where they disrupt predictions game by game. They warned Lithuania before measuring Scariolo, saying they don’t have more centimeters, more weight, or more talent than before, but they do have better chemistry. Now everyone knows their role and steps up when they are on the floor. That mindset, along with Brown’s decisive shot, justified the right choice and carried them to the quarterfinals.
In the opening moments, Scariolo named a recognizable starting five with Pradilla in the swing spot, and work on the environment Jaume Fernandez and Lopez-Arostegui. He began the game with an offensive foul. Valanciunas delivered an assist to Pradilla as the Spaniards communicated on the court, while the suspended Willy Sabonis watched from the bench. The biggest lift came from Hernangomez, who posted the first six points and moved well to push the staffing. As Lithuania’s points rose, Grigonis exploited the aggressive Spanish forwards. The emergence of the Lithuanian centers gave them the initial lead at 9-11, but Spain’s rotation and the appearance of Rudy kept Scariolo’s unit steady. Garuba forced Valanciunas to the bench with two fouls before the end of the first period. Alberto Diaz added another triple with Rudy, yet at the end of the first quarter the Lithuanian foreigners carried a 19-20 edge.
second unit
The second Spanish wave energized the game with an 8-0 burst. Dario Brizuela sparked the defense while Alberto Díaz set the tone. Juancho led the pace and Garuba answered the crowd with a strong move against Valanciunas. But Kuzminskas and Sabonis then stretched Spain’s defense outward, throwing the balance off and leaving Spain trailing 34-38. The intensified defensive effort quickly sent Scariolo’s team into the bonus, producing easy points on the other end. By halftime, Lithuania controlled the tempo with the speed of Kuzminskas at 45-40.
TO FIGHT in the second part, Family remains in the spotlight.
@EuroBasket 40-45 best moments captured in Berlin as the team emphasizes unity and purpose. The squad posted a message about their vibe and resilience on social media, reflecting the collective spirit of the campaign.
Spain opened the second half with a run of naive fouls and defensive lapses that left them chasing the game. Brown delivered solid looks, yet execution lagged and Lithuania seized the moment to extend the gap. Scariolo faced one of the team’s tougher stretches, with a 47-58 deficit that tested both morale and strategy. Defensively, they were late to close the paint, and the outside game didn’t click as the Lithuanians kept the pressure high. Kuzminskas remained hot and Brown struggled to find comfortable shots, widening the distance. Yet Juancho’s courage and a standout performance from Garuba, combined with a timely triple from Rudy, brought Spain back into the mix by the end of the third quarter at 63-68.
Missed attempts and errant launches marked the rally, and a sense of urgency grew. Rudy carried the weight with his leadership and steady play. Scariolo searched for countermeasures to flip the momentum. The Spanish defense tightened, sparks of optimism appeared as they pushed the game toward a tense finish, and a late run tied the score at 74-75 with 3:25 left. Brown managed the offense with poise as Garuba and Willy battled inside. Lopez-Arostegui delivered a crucial Spaniard score to put them ahead 80-78 with under a minute remaining. After the Lithuanian trio answered, Garuba grabbed his fifteenth offensive rebound with 16 seconds left, renewing hope. A defensive stand followed, and Alberto Díaz forced a key offensive mistake. Willy then countered with a late bucket, sending the game to overtime.
brown moment
Brown dominated the overtime period with a twelve-point burst, showing the same smartness that had guided Spain all night. Scariolo’s plan paid off as the defense clamped down and Brown’s shooting rhythm sealed the result. Spain outlasted Lithuania to advance to the quarterfinals with a 102-94 score and the bench once again celebrated a growing team identity. The group cohesion they displayed became more than just a moment; it defined how they approached the tournament as a unit, a stance echoed by commentators and fans alike. The squad’s resilience and collective effort stood as the defining takeaway of the night, a testament to teamwork and character over talent alone, as noted by observers from Baloncesto ESP and others who followed the game closely.