Matosinhos, Portugal: In the final of FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2016, Spain won against Italy to have been crowned back-to-back champions in the most dramatic of fashion, goal deficit being 71-69 in Portugal on Sunday.
The runners-up Italy had the chance to take the game to overtime, only for their desperation buzzer-beater to rim out, sending the Spanish team into wild jubilation.
Italy could see this situation thanks to the almost-unanimous tournament MVP Cecilia Zandalasini who led them rallied back from 19 points adrift, but somehow the team couldn’t push the final button for the thing.
The Italian Zandalasini headlined the All-Star Five, where she was joined by victorious Spanish co-captain Laura Quevedo. The Spanish played a limited role in the Final, going down with an injury early in the opening quarter.
Final’s results
Spain beat Italy 71-69
For the 3/4 place
Russia beat Serbia 78-72
The FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship Division A podium finish had Spain followed by Italy and then Russia who stayed third.