Spain Rallies Past Georgia 90-61 for Perfect Qualifier Start

Spain took a big step towards the 2027 World Cup qualifiers with a 90-61 win against Georgia in Tenerife. It was a game of two halves, as Spain started slowly, falling behind by as many as 10 points and trailing 23-29. However, they turned things around with two incredible scoring runs that secured a comfortable victory.

First, Spain went on a 24-4 run, followed by another 23-8 surge. These two bursts combined for a massive 47-16 swing, largely thanks to their 14 three-pointers. Georgia couldn't keep up, and Spain built a commanding 70-45 lead, effectively ending the game with a quarter still to play.

Santi Yusta led Spain in scoring with 17 points. Izan Almansa was the standout player for coach Chus Mateo's team, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, earning a performance rating of 24. This win means Spain finishes the first qualifying window with a perfect two wins from two games. In the battle of the big men, Fran Guerra scored six points and grabbed six rebounds for Spain, while Georgia's Gio Shermadini had eight points and six rebounds.

The only bad news for Spain was an injury to Great Osobor, who hurt his right knee and played for just over a minute and a half.

Despite the comfortable final score, Spain looked very shaky at the start. Georgia took advantage with good play from Shengelia, who hit a three-pointer and drew two fouls, and Andronikashvili, whose drives to the basket went unchecked, giving Georgia an early 2-9 lead.

Spain struggled to find their rhythm, with Yusta's attacking play being their main threat. Álex Reyes and Fran Guerra added some points, but Georgia continued to press, with Shengelia creating opportunities and Sanadze scoring seven straight points to extend their lead to 8-18.

Coach Mateo called a timeout and brought in some fresh players, which helped turn the tide slightly. This period also saw Osobor's worrying injury, as he had to leave the court unable to put weight on his right knee. Despite this, Almansa's work inside, earning free throws, and Lluís Costa's drives helped Spain stay in the game, narrowing the gap to 21-22 early in the second quarter.

Georgia briefly regained control with McFadden entering the game and Shermadini scoring inside, making it 23-29. But then, Spain completely changed the game. They stepped up their defense, especially in one-on-one situations, and moved the ball smartly on offense to create open shots in the corners. Pauli and Busquets (twice) capitalized, giving Spain their first lead of the game at 32-29 after 15 minutes.

Once ahead, Spain didn't look back. They extended their run to 14-0, capped by another three-pointer from Yusta. This offensive explosion overshadowed their excellent defensive effort, which kept Georgia scoreless for over five minutes.

Spain continued to hit three-pointers (Salvó added another, making it five in the quarter and 8 of 19 by halftime). They also excelled in the fast-paced moments of the game, effectively neutralizing Shengelia, who scored only two points in the quarter. Georgia also struggled from the free-throw line, missing all four attempts between Shermadini and Shengelia.

Spain had completely flipped the script, transferring all their early discomfort onto Georgia. This resulted in a devastating 24-4 run in just seven minutes, with Yusta already on 11 points, giving Chus Mateo's team a comfortable 47-33 lead at halftime.

Spain's start to the third quarter wasn't as strong (47-37), but this brief wobble ended when Alberto Díaz made three key plays: a corner three-pointer, a steal on an inbound pass, and another difficult three-pointer, extending the lead to 53-37.

Georgia tried to fight back with Shermadini and Shengelia (55-43), but it wasn't enough. Spain continued to score from beyond the arc (now 11 three-pointers) and found success by running the court, exposing Georgia's defensive weaknesses. This added speed helped Mateo's team push the lead to 60-43 after 28 minutes.

Spain's defense became even more aggressive, making it difficult for Georgia to even get the ball past half-court. In another seven-minute burst, similar to the second quarter, Spain delivered another crushing 23-8 run, effectively sealing their victory at 70-45, with a whole quarter still to play.

The fourth quarter had little impact on the outcome. Spain's lead reached a maximum of 33 points (83-50), and the game ended with both teams trading baskets. Francis Alonso scored 10 points in just five minutes during this period. Spain continues its successful run of games in Tenerife, playing in front of a packed Santiago Martín arena this time.