Spain's under‑20 basketball squad secured the bronze medal at the 2026 FIBA U20 EuroBasket after a decisive 65‑54 victory over France in the third‑place game, capping a 6‑1 campaign that placed the team among the tournament's most consistent performers.
Villar's all‑star impact
Raúl Villar emerged as the tournament's playmaker, averaging 7.0 assists per game while shooting efficiently and contributing 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals. His all‑star selection to the All‑Star Five recognized not only his assist numbers but also his all‑around efficiency, highlighted by a 16‑point, 12‑assist performance in the quarter‑final clash.
Villar also logged a double‑digit scoring game against Croatia with 12 points and five assists, and he added 11 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals versus Greece, underscoring his versatility throughout the competition.
Garmendia's defensive spark
Iker Garmendia featured in every early Spanish victory and posted averages of 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, while his 10 steals and four blocked shots ranked among the tournament's best. He contributed a tournament‑high 10 points in the win over Croatia and added nine points in the round‑of‑16 triumph against Romania.
Spain's path to bronze
After an unbeaten group stage that included wins over Belgium, Croatia and Greece, Spain dispatched Romania in the round of 16 and Germany in the quarter‑finals before falling 72‑65 to Serbia in the semi‑final. The narrow loss set up a bronze‑medal showdown with France, where Spain outscored the French 22‑13 in the final quarter to seal a 65‑54 win.
The victory marked Spain's eighth bronze medal in U20 EuroBasket history and extended their overall medal count to 17, reinforcing the nation's strong tradition in the youth competition.
Beyond the medal, Villar's all‑star nod underscores the growing depth of Spanish talent, while Garmendia's defensive statistics signal a promising future for the squad on the international stage.