Spain has had some talent at the guard position over the last couple of decades, just natural and fluid passers. Gonzaga’s Mario Saint-Supery now draws early similarities to another great Spanish guard, Ricky Rubio, after being the newly appointed youngest Spanish player to appear at EuroBasket.
Despite Spain being eliminated from the 2025 EuroBasket by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece in the final game of group play, 90-86, Saint-Supery gained valuable experience when going against one of the best players on the planet in Cyrpus, Egypt.
He finished with 13 points on 4-9 field goals/1-2 three-pointers/4-4 free throws, two assists, one steal, one block, and zero turnovers in 17 minutes. Although being a facilitator is what stands out when watching his highlights, he’s an efficient scorer on all three levels and looks to be a combo guard for coach Mark Few in Spokane. Saint-Supery is going to make an immediate impact for the Zags.
Spain coach Sergio Scariolo felt more than comfortable playing him (along with Sergio de Larrea) in the closing minutes against Greece. Having that much trust in a 19-year-old in competitive FIBA play tells a lot oabout his early potential. He was even in the running for the EuroBasket’s Rising Star Award, a coveted honor thoughout international play after putting together in 8.4 points per game on a shooting split of 43.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from deep, and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe to go along with 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
“I’ve played with them (Saint-Supery and de Larrea) to win this game, I felt comfortable with them… I like the image that they can be closing a door and opening another.” – Spain coach Sergio Scariolo
In a shocking upset by Laurri Markennan and Finland, Serbia’s Filip Petrusev’s time at EuroBasket was cut short after falling in the Round of 16 in Riga, Latvia, 92-86. Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic continues to show his dominance internationally, but Markennan is making a name for himself as a star ready to break out even further in his ninth NBA season in 2025-26 with the Utah Jazz.
Petrusev didn’t make much of an impact in the elimination game against Finland after scoring just three points, grabbing three rebounds, and dishing out three assists in 16 minutes of play. Throughout the six games played in the tournament, he averaged 8.8 points per game on a 58.8 field goal percentage, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
He will be competing with Dubai Basketball, his eight proffesional team since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Petrusev recently sign a three-year deal with the member of the ABA League and EuroLeague.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
