Giannis Antetokounmpo steered Greece to a commanding 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Piraeus, Greece. In a stunning display of efficiency and skill, Antetokounmpo racked up 32 points in just 19 minutes of play. He was perfect from the field, sinking all 11 of his shots and making one three-pointer. Though his free-throw shooting could have been sharper, hitting 9-of-13, his overall performance was nothing short of spectacular.
Vassilis Spanoulis, speaking about Antetokounmpo, 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." This sentiment was echoed on the court as the Greek team dominated, leading by as many as 27 points at one stage. Thomas Walkup added 17 points, solidifying Greece's position in the tournament. To advance to the semifinal round, Greece now needs a victory over Egypt on Thursday.
Global Qualifying Drama
The Olympic qualifiers are not limited to Greece. Parallel tournaments are concurrently underway in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These series will collectively determine four slots in the men's basketball competition for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play across all venues will conclude on Thursday, followed by semifinal matches on Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
Close Contests Across the Board
In another thrilling game in Piraeus, New Zealand edged past Croatia 90-86 in Group A. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were instrumental, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's layup in the final minute secured the win. Croatia's Ivica Zubac had a monster game with 29 points and 16 rebounds, while teammates Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja also made significant contributions. Despite the loss, Croatia's four-point differential means they will advance to the semifinals unless Slovenia beats New Zealand by 21 points or more.
Reflecting on the match, Saric commented, "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."
Latvia Hosts Intense Showdowns
Meanwhile, in Riga, Latvia, Montenegro managed to overcome Cameroon 70-66. Marko Simonovic led Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montenegro excelled from the free-throw line, hitting 20 out of 24 attempts. Cameroon’s Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points, but their efforts fell short as Montenegro led 32-29 at halftime and never looked back.
Bahamas Ascend in Spain
In Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout stage, buoyed by a strong team effort. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. led with 21 points, Deandre Ayton contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, and Buddy Hield added 17 points and 10 assists. The Bahamas, showcasing their shooting prowess, made 13 successful three-pointers and recorded 24 assists on 31 field goals. Holding a 2-0 record in Group B, they await the outcome of Poland versus Finland 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 was exceptional, nearly recording a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds. Latvia managed to cut a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points, but it was too little too late. Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.
In another match-up, Spain defeated Angola 89-81, with Santiago Aldama scoring 24 points and Willy Hernangomez contributing 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jilson Bango led Angola with 15 points and nine rebounds. Angola will need to triumph over Lebanon to advance to the knockout stage alongside Spain.
As the Olympian dreams hang in the balance, the coming days promise high-stakes, intense action across the board, with teams vying for a coveted spot on the grand stage in Paris.