At the last World Cup, he slipped in between the Hernangomez brothers in the team's top scorer rankings. Santi Aldama seems to have taken the reins of the Spanish attack since then.
The Grizzlies center showed it again yesterday in a very important match against Greece: 19 points (6/14 shooting including 3/8 from afar), including two important baskets near the circle in the “money time”, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Three days earlier, during the defeat against Australia, he had done even better with his 27 points (6/12 shooting including 6/8 from afar) and 5 rebounds.
” There's nothing bigger than representing your country, especially at the Olympics. It's an honour for me to be here and have the opportunity to do it. But next to this group of guys, they're incredible… We deserve this win “, let go of the Spaniard after the victory against Greece, during which he was also “posterized” by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Present at the 2024 Olympics, more than twenty years after his father in Barcelona, Santi Aldama did not wait for the start of this competition to gain responsibility. He had already shone a few weeks earlier in the Olympic Qualification Tournament organized in Valencia.
Other frames in retreat
A TQO at the end of which Spain obtained its Olympic ticket and during which the 23-year-old player shone with 17 points, 8 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks on average over four games. In the final against the Bahamas, he accumulated 12 points and 7 rebounds, including a very important save. Enough to earn him an MVP title.
A dynamic confirmed by his first performances in Lille, where Lorenzo Brown has been clumsy so far (7 points at 36% shooting), while the Hernangomez brothers seem to be lagging behind, particularly Juancho (2.5 points at 29% success, against 12.5 points for Willy).
” He is our best player and he knows it. “, says his teammate Dario Brizuela, before adding: “ He took a step forward this year compared to last year's World Cup. He became our leader. He had an extraordinary match. (facing Greece), we are happy for him. »
Sergio Scariolo too, because he sees the emergence of a talent from the younger generation, behind the representatives of the golden age of Spanish basketball (Sergio Llull – still 15 points on average! – Rudy Fernandez), who is set to take over for the competitions to come.
