In an electrifying display of athletic prowess, Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to a resounding 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Piraeus, Greece. Antetokounmpo was virtually unstoppable, racking up 32 points in just 19 minutes of play. Remarkably, he made all 11 of his field goal attempts, demonstrating an unmatched efficiency on the court. His performance from the free-throw line was solid as well, going 9-of-13, and he even sank his only three-point attempt.
Complementing Antetokounmpo's extraordinary effort, Thomas Walkup added 17 points for Greece, which at one point held a 27-point lead over their opponents. The team's cohesion and dominance were evident as they controlled the pace and flow of the game from start to finish. Greece now faces a pivotal match against Egypt on Thursday, needing a win to advance to the semifinal round.
The qualifiers in Greece are part of a larger global series of tournaments also taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Four spots in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics are up for grabs, with the group play at all four venues concluding on Thursday. Semifinal matches are set for Saturday, and championship games will occur on Sunday.
A Glimpse into Other Matches
In Group A in Piraeus, New Zealand edged past Croatia with a narrow 90-86 victory. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were instrumental in the win, scoring 21 and 18 points, respectively. Ili's layup in the final minute sealed the deal for New Zealand. On the other side, Ivica Zubac's 29 points and 16 rebounds weren't enough to push Croatia over the finish line. Significant contributions from Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja kept Croatia competitive, and their four-point differential means they will advance to the semifinals unless Slovenia defeats New Zealand by 21 points or more. This comes after Croatia's 108-92 win over Slovenia in a prior game.
"It was a tough spot playing after an emotional win over Slovenia. We were hoping we'd be on a level and push the game in our direction. But today wasn't the case," admitted Dario Saric, reflecting on the challenging dynamics of consecutive high-stakes games.
Montenegro and Cameroon Clash in Latvia
In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro overcame Cameroon with a hard-fought 70-66 victory. Marko Simonovic led Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds, while five players from their roster scored in double figures. Nikola Vucevic also had a notable performance, scoring 11 points and recording 14 rebounds. Their proficiency from the free-throw line—hitting 20 out of 24 attempts—proved crucial. For Cameroon, Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points, but their efforts fell short against a balanced Montenegro team.
Bahamas Advance in Spain
Meanwhile, in Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas secured their spot in the knockout round. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. led with 21 points, supported by Deandre Ayton's 18 points and nine rebounds. The Bahamas showcased their shooting prowess by making 13 successful three-pointers and dishing out 24 assists on 31 field goals. Buddy Hield was also instrumental, scoring 17 points and recording 10 assists. With a 2-0 record in Group B, the Bahamas look formidable as they await the outcome of the Poland-Finland clash to determine who will join them in the semifinals.
Philippines and Spain Shine
The Philippines also had a notable performance, defeating Latvia 89-80. Justin Brownlee nearly achieved a triple-double, scoring 26 points, and recording nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto contributed 18 points and eight rebounds. Latvia managed to trim a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points but couldn't complete the comeback. Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.
Spain secured an 89-81 win over Angola, with Santiago Aldama scoring 24 points and Willy Hernangomez adding 22 points and 10 rebounds. Angola's Jilson Bango scored 15 points and recorded nine rebounds. Angola needs a win against Lebanon to advance to the knockout round alongside Spain.
Expert Commentary
Vassilis Spanoulis, reflecting on Giannis Antetokounmpo's contribution to the Greek national team, remarked, "Giannis loves to be here. He loves to represent his country. He's very humble. He's part of the team. For a superstar you don't find this easy. ... He's about winning." Indeed, Antetokounmpo's commitment and humility shine through in his performance and leadership.
New Zealand's Reuben Te Rangi also shared his thoughts on their gritty win, saying, "It was a gutsy win for our team." This sentiment captures the determination and resilience displayed by teams throughout the qualifying tournaments as they vie for a chance to compete on the Olympic stage in Paris.