this Spanish selection U-20 basketball beat Lithuania (61-69) and won his third Europe category with the government of Juan Núñez led by new generation of young players Names like Millán Jiménez, Rubén Domínguez, Michael Caicedo or Miguel Allen will sound strong in the not too distant future.
Spain’s Young Lions claimed their third European Under-20 title more than five years after their Helsinki triumph in 2016. Guided by Joaquín Prado, the current cohort entered the scene with a clear purpose: to reclaim the crown and prove that a fresh wave of talent could rise to the challenge. From the group stage onward, Spain showed depth and discipline, building momentum with a string of convincing performances that culminated in a finals run that began with six decisive wins in a row.
Lithuania arrived with a steadier rhythm after a rocky group phase, but they found a rival determined to defend the title. The Baltic team overcame the host nation Montenegro in a tense semifinal, a result powered in part by Mantas Rubstavicius, the tournament’s top scorer with 123 points across six games. He posed a constant threat to Spain, the kind of player who can tilt a game in an instant. Yet Prado’s charges were not to be deterred.
Spain’s start set an early tone. Michael Caicedo lit up the floor, launching the opening quarter with a burst of points that sparked the crowd and set the tone for what would be a high-intensity matchup. He finished with a flawless shot percentage on his early attempts, helping Spain surge to a lead that reached fourteen points. The early advantage suggested the gold could stay in Iberian hands, though the game would prove to be a long, grinding affair.
Rubstavicius and Dovydas Butka shifted gears for Lithuania, triggering a renewed push to climb back into the contest. Spain endured a period without scoring that stretched for five long minutes, allowing Lithuania to seize their first lead of the night. A four-point edge for the visitors at 48-44 signaled a pivotal moment, but Prado’s squad steadied the ship and entered the final period with the board still open to interpretation.
The final stage was a battle of nerves. A deadlock at 48-48 gave way to a late drama where Rubén Domínguez emerged as a catalyst, delivering crucial triples that altered the scoreboard and gave Spain a fighting chance. The game tightened to a one-possession margin with three minutes on the clock (61-62). Aitor Etxeguren delivered a key defensive stop, and Miguel Allen executed a memorable show of skill to deny a late Lithuanian surge and maintain Spain’s momentum.
Then Núñez left his mark on the outcome. Caicedo, Millán Jiménez, and Rubén Domínguez combined to craft a decisive late sequence, culminating in a layup that sealed the championship. Spain carried a five-point cushion into the closing minute, and a miscue by Lithuania, paired with smart ball control from the Spaniards, closed out the victory. There would be no Baltic miracle this time, and Spain celebrated a historic third title, powered by a new generation ready to carry the national program forward [CITE: European U-20 Championship final report].
Data sheet:
61 – Lithuania (17+18+18+6): Ugnius Jarusevicius (4), Augustinas Kiudulas (4), Augustaas Marciulionis (6), Jokubas Rubinas (8), Mantas Rubstavicius (15) -starting five-, Tadas Budrys (-), Dovydas Butka (11), Nedas Montvila (2), Hubertas Pivorius (3), Edgaras Preibys (-), Dominykas Stenionis (7), Martynas Tamulevicius (1).
69 – Spain (26+14+13+14): Hector Alderete (2), Michael Caicedo (13), Aitor Etxeguren (5), Millán Jimenez (3), Juan Núñez (11) -starting five-, Miguel Montesdeoca, Guillermo Díaz (6), Adrià Domenech (4), Rubén Domínguez (17), Guillem Ferrando (2), Sergi Huguet (-), Miguel Allen (6), Marc Peñarroya (-).
Referees: Wojciech Liszka (Poland), Anastasios Kardaris (Greece) and Thomas Bissuel (France). The final was played at the Bemax Arena pavilion in Podgorica, Montenegro. Spain sealed the win in a dramatic fashion, confirming a memorable title run for Prado’s youth program [CITE: officiating details].
Data sheet
Events: The final of the European Under-20 Basketball Championship took place at the Bemax Arena pavilion in Podgorica, Montenegro. Spain’s win signaled the emergence of a promising wave of players who could shape the future of national team basketball in the region [CITE: event summary].