Guard Iyana Martín scored 26 points on Saturday to drive Spain to an 84-64 victory over Bulgaria in Samokov, securing top spot in Group J for the Eurobasket 2027 qualifiers.
Spain overcame a freezing atmosphere at the Arena SamElyon and a physical Bulgarian interior defense to claim its second straight win in the qualifying phase. Head coach Miguel Méndez watched his side struggle early with the local physicality and a 32-28 deficit in the second quarter before defensive adjustments turned the contest.
Bulgaria relied heavily on former Valencia Basket player Khaalia Hillsman, who capitalized on the glass with 11 offensive rebounds.
Radostina Dimitrova also caused persistent problems for the Spanish defense from beyond the arc, hitting consecutive three-pointers to keep the hosts ahead through much of the first half.
Spain shot zero for six from three-point range until Maite Cazorla broke the perimeter drought midway through the second period. That basket sparked a response, and Martín drove through the left side on three consecutive possessions to push La Familia ahead 38-37 at halftime.
Martín took complete control after the intermission, scoring 14 of her game-high 26 points during a decisive third quarter.
Spain increased its defensive intensity, cleaned up the defensive glass, and exploited the pick-and-roll combination between Martín and Raquel Carrera.
As physical fatigue caught up to the Bulgarian squad, Spain unleashed a 16-2 run that broke the game open.
Bulgaria committed 25 turnovers under the mounting pressure, allowing the visitors to coast through a quiet fourth quarter.
The victory leaves Spain undefeated at the summit of Group J after two matches.
La Familia concludes the first qualification window on Tuesday with a match against Croatia.
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