Spain starts its challenge in the 3×3 European Cup

This Friday, the European challenge begins for Spain in the 2026 3×3 Euro Cup. The two Spanish teams, after completing their preparation at L'Alquería del Basket in Valencia, travel to Antwerp with the determination to compete at the highest level. The men's team played training matches against Lithuania, while the women's team later joined the training sessions in the Valencian capital. With the rosters now set, both delegations are ready to face a weekend full of 3×3 basketball.

The men's team seeks to surprise in their return

The Spanish men's team, composed of Iván Aurrecoechea, Diego de Blas, Isaac Mayo, and Jaume Zanca, makes its debut in Pool B of the competition. Pedro Meléndez had to make adjustments to the roster following the departure of Carlos Martínez and the injury of Guim Expósito. The quartet representing Spain combines interior power, speed, and experience in the reduced format, characteristics that will be crucial for advancing in Antwerp.

The Spaniards open their participation with two demanding matches. At 19:20, they face Italy, and later, at 21:10, they will play against the Netherlands. Both rivals represent a level test for a group that aims to advance with authority. The results in the Pre-European Championship in Romania left the team with a very positive feeling as they continue to grow with every tournament played. This is the second participation of the men's team in the last five years; their best previous result was fourth place achieved in Debrecen in 2019.

The men's team currently occupies the eighth position in the FIBA ranking, while Diego de Blas is ranked 47th in that ranking. Together with Aurrecoechea, he has participated in a total of 31 official matches representing Spain. The team seeks to make a surprise in a group that also includes the Netherlands and Italy, two powerhouses of European basketball.

The women's team arrives with experience and ambition

The Spanish women's team approaches its participation with four players who represent the perfect balance of physicality, technique, and competitiveness. Txell Alarcón, Gracia Alonso de Armiño, Marta Canella, and Helena Oma make up a team led by coach Sandra Ygueravide, who has opted for this combination of new faces and veteran experience.

The Spaniards debut at 13:30 against Slovenia, a demanding start against a physical and competitive team. Subsequently, at 19:45, they will close the day facing Hungary, another direct rival in the battle for group leadership. Both matches will set the course for Spain in the competition and will determine their position in Pool B, where Slovenia is also present as the third participant.

The women's team arrives in Antwerp after completing a good year on the Women's Series circuit. The Spanish teams have garnered gold in Bordeaux, Vienna, and Bucharest, as well as silver in Sea Breeze. This record of international victories instills confidence in the team going into the Belgian event. Gracia Alonso de Armiño brings 44 international appearances to the team and has already tasted victory in a European Cup, a feat achieved in 2024. Txell Alarcón returns to 3×3 after being part of the preparation for the Women's World Cup.

History and competitive context

Spain's presence in the 3×3 Euro Cup has left a particularly significant legacy in the women's section. Spanish players have won gold on two occasions: Paris 2021 and Vienna 2024. Additionally, they have reached the finals in three different editions: Amsterdam 2017, Debrecen 2019, and Jerusalem 2023. In the previous edition, held in Copenhagen, the women's team secured bronze with four victories and only one defeat. The Women's National Team currently occupies the fourth position in the FIBA ranking, positioning itself as the top seed in Group B of this edition.

Meanwhile, the men's team faces its second participation in the last five years. Although their history in the competition is more modest than that of the women's team, the group works with the hope of improving their previous results. The consolidation of new talents like Isaac Mayo and Jaume Zanca, alongside the experience of Aurrecoechea and De Blas, seeks to establish a strong foundation to compete in the European 3×3 landscape.

Competition format and upcoming phases

In both the men's and women's categories, the top two positions from each group qualify to advance in the competition. In both cases, Spain is placed in Pool B. The knockout rounds will take place on Sunday, where Spain would face teams from Group D, as outlined in the format of the 3×3 Euro Cup.

All matches will be broadcasted through the official FIBA 3×3 channel on YouTube. The kickoff arrives on Friday at 13:30 with the Spain-Slovenia match of the women's team, marking the start of an intense weekend of European 3×3 basketball. Both Spanish teams have the opportunity to demonstrate their competitive level and advance in a competition where reduced basketball is played at high intensity and pace.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, España inicia su reto en la Copa de Europa 3×3