2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup final explained

Game Name:2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup final
Team1:Argentina
Visitor Association:
Team1score:75
Team2:Spain
Home Association:
Team2score:95
Team1 Per1:14
Team1 Per2:17
Team1 Per3:16
Team1 Per4:28
Team2 Per1:23
Team2 Per2:20
Team2 Per3:23
Team2 Per4:29
Date1:15 September 2019
Stadium1:Wukesong Arena
City1:Beijing
Team1coach:Sergio Hernández (Argentina)
Team2coach:Sergio Scariolo (Spain)
Man Of The Match1atitle:TCL
Man Of The Match1a:Ricky Rubio (Spain)
Attendance1:11,110[1]
Previous:2014
Next:2023

The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup final was the concluding basketball game which determined the winner of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The game was played on 15 September 2019, at the Wukesong Arena, in Beijing, China,[2] between Argentina and Spain.[3]

At halftime, a turnover ceremony was held to officially hand over the hosting rights of the FIBA Basketball World Cup from China to the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, hosts of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup,[4] which will take place from 25 August to 10 September.[5]

The Naismith Trophy was awarded to the winning team for the first time since the unveiling of its new version in 2017.

Spain won their second World Cup title after a 95–75 win.[6] Marc Gasol became the first player since Lamar Odom in 2010 to win an NBA championship and a World Cup in the same year, and the first non-American to win an NBA or WNBA title and either a World Cup or Olympic gold medal in the same year.[7]

Route to the final

ArgentinaRoundSpain
OpponentResultPreliminary roundOpponentResult
95–69Game 1101–62
94–81Game 273–63
69–61Game 373–65
Final standing
OpponentResultSecond roundOpponentResult
87–78Game 467–60
91–65Game 581–69
Final standing
OpponentResultFinal roundOpponentResult
97–87Quarter-finals90–78
80–66Semi-finals95–88 (2OT)

Argentina

Argentina topped Group B in Wuhan, after beating Russia in the final group game. They also defeated South Korea and Nigeria to end with a 3–0 record in the first round.[8] Group I in Foshan also saw the South Americans topping the group, thereby qualifying to the quarter-finals. Their win against Poland won them the group.[9] In the quarter-finals at Dongguan, Argentina defeated 2014 World Cup runners-up and 2016 Olympic silver medalists Serbia by 10 points to qualify to the semi-finals.[10] France, which had defeated the United States in their own quarter-final match-up, faced the South Americans in the semi-final at Beijing. Luis Scola scored his tournament-high 28 points in the game, and Rudy Gobert was limited to just three points, which led to Argentina advancing to its first World Cup final since 2002, which was Scola's first.[11]

Spain

The Spaniards finished on top of Group C in Guangzhou. The Europeans defeated Tunisia, Puerto Rico and Iran to end up undefeated going into the second round.[12] At the second round Group J at Wuhan, Spain ran away winners of the group after defeating Italy and erstwhile undefeated team Serbia to finish the group stages with a 5–0 record.[13] In the quarter-finals at Shanghai, Spain eliminated surprise qualifiers Poland, off the back of Ricky Rubio's near double-double of 19 points and nine assists, plus five rebounds. A pair of three-point shots was the difference late in the fourth quarter that prevented the Poles from cutting the lead.[14] In the semi-final against Australia at Beijing, the Australians led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but the Spaniards came back to tie the game at the end of regulation, 71-all. In overtime, Marc Gasol and Patty Mills scored three-pointers, but with the game tied at 78-all, Mills was fouled, and converted both free-throws. Gasol was fouled himself on the next possession, and also made both of his foul shots. Matthew Dellavedova tried to win it at the buzzer, but missed, sending the game to double overtime. Spain opened the second overtime with two three-pointers, and that was the difference, qualifying them to their second World Cup final, after winning it in 2006.[15]

Game details

This is the eighth meeting between Argentina and Spain at the World Cup, with the Spaniards winning five; Argentina won two, including their last meeting at the 2010 World Championship.[16] Spain won the last competitive meeting, at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[17]

Spain led by 14–2 at the start of the game. Argentina recovered to finish the first quarter with 14 points against Spain's 22. The lead then fluctuated, but once the Argentinians cut the deficit to twelve at the start of the third quarter, the Spaniards went on a 14–0 run, leading by 55–33. The Spaniards never looked back. Ricky Rubio scored 20 points in the game, and limited Facundo Campazzo to just 11 points in 20% field-goal percentage. Luis Scola was also limited to 1/10 shooting in the game, and didn't score until making his free-throws late in the third quarter, as Gabriel Deck had a game high 24 points.[18] Marc Gasol scored 14 points, had a team high 7 assists, had 2 steals, and blocked 3 shots in the game. Argentina tried to mount a comeback in the fourth period, but by then the lead was too great, and there was little time remaining by then. Spain won its second World Cup, with Gasol and Fernández being also a part of the first title in 2006.[19]

valign=top align=right width=33%
Argentina StatisticsSpain
15/34 (44%) 2-pt field goals 25/45 (56%)
7/27 (26%)3-pt field goals 6/20 (30%)
24/28 (86%)Free throws 27/33 (82%)
5Offensive rebounds 13
22 Defensive rebounds 34
27 Total rebounds 47
15Assists 20
14Turnovers 14
11Steals 9
1Blocks 8
28Fouls 25

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Argentina-Spain . basketnews . 30 March 2023.
  2. http://www.hostcity.com/news/event-bidding/8-chinese-cities-host-2019-fiba-world-cup 8 Chinese cities to host 2019 FIBA World Cup
  3. Web site: Spain defeats Argentina to win 2019 FIBA World Cup, finish tournament 8-0. 30 March 2023. Fox Sports. 16 September 2019.
  4. Web site: MVP: '23 World Cup great treat to fans . Philippine Star . 14 September 2019 . 14 September 2019.
  5. News: Satumbaga. Kristel. Dates set for 2023 World Cup. 30 March 2023. Manila Bulletin. 11 May 2020. 13 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200913085320/https://sports.mb.com.ph/2020/05/11/dates-set-for-2023-fiba-world-cup/. dead.
  6. Web site: Spain overpower Argentina to reclaim World Cup throne. fiba.basketball. 15 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Gasol completes historic double, Spain wins World Cup. sports.yahoo.com. en-US. 15 September 2019. 5 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191005150201/https://sports.yahoo.com/gasol-completes-historic-double-spain-wins-world-cup-140648048--nba.html. dead.
  8. Web site: Argentina edges Russia 69–61, tops Group B at FIBA World Cup – Xinhua English.news.cn. https://web.archive.org/web/20190909001338/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/05/c_138365442.htm. dead. 9 September 2019. www.xinhuanet.com. 15 September 2019.
  9. Web site: Argentina overpowers Poland, keeps perfect record intact at FIBA World Cup – Xinhua English.news.cn. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912195046/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/08/c_138375892.htm. dead. 12 September 2020. www.xinhuanet.com. 15 September 2019.
  10. Web site: 'No miracles' as Argentina oust Serbia. 10 September 2019. 7NEWS.com.au. en. 15 September 2019.
  11. News: Inspired Luis Scola guides Argentina past France, into World Cup finale. 14 September 2019. The Japan Times Online. 15 September 2019. en-US. 0447-5763.
  12. Web site: FIBA World Cup 2019 Results: Wednesday Group Scores, Highlights and Reaction. Blanchette. Rob. Bleacher Report. en. 15 September 2019.
  13. Web site: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019: Scores and highlights from Second Round Day 3. NBA.com India The official site of the NBA. en. 15 September 2019.
  14. Web site: Ricky Rubio powers Spain past Poland at FIBA World Cup. NBA.com. en. 15 September 2019.
  15. Web site: Australia reacts to World Cup 'disgrace'. 14 September 2019. www.dailytelegraph.com.au. en. 15 September 2019.
  16. Web site: archive.fiba.com: Key Figures. archive.fiba.com. 15 September 2019.
  17. Web site: archive.fiba.com: Key Figures. archive.fiba.com. 15 September 2019.
  18. Web site: Basketball: Amazing double for Marc Gasol as Spain win second World Cup, France recover late to earn bronze. hermesauto. 15 September 2019. The Straits Times. en. 15 September 2019.
  19. Web site: Spain seal second FIBA World Cup with win over Argentina. 15 September 2019. MARCA in English. en. 15 September 2019.