Giannis Antetokounmpo Shines in Greece's Dominant Win Over Dominican Republic
Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a masterclass performance, leading Greece to a commanding 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Piraeus, Greece. Showing off his scoring prowess, Antetokounmpo tallied an astonishing 32 points in just 19 minutes of play, hitting all 11 of his field goal attempts.
Antetokounmpo, who also excelled from the line by going 9-of-13, sank his only three-point attempt, solidifying his all-around offensive game. His extraordinary effort drew praise from his coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, who 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."
In addition to Antetokounmpo’s heroics, Thomas Walkup contributed significantly by adding 17 points for Greece. The Greek team was relentless from the outset, leading by as many as 27 points during the game. Greece now looks forward to their next match against Egypt on Thursday, which they must win to advance to the semifinal round.
The qualifiers in Greece are part of a broader series of tournaments also being held in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These competitions are crucial as four participants in the men's basketball event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be determined from these qualifiers. Group play at all four venues wraps up on Thursday, followed by the semifinal clashes on Saturday, and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand's Narrow Victory
New Zealand edged past Croatia in a tightly contested game, securing a 90-86 victory in Group A in Piraeus. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were pivotal for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's timely layup in the final minute sealed the win for the Kiwis in what Reuben Te Rangi described as "a gutsy win for our team."
Despite the loss, Croatia had notable performances, with Ivica Zubac scoring 29 points and recording 16 rebounds. Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja also made significant contributions. Reflecting on the game, Saric noted, "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." Croatia's narrow margin of defeat, however, keeps their semifinal hopes alive, contingent on Slovenia not defeating New Zealand by 21 points or more.
Montenegro Prevails in Riga
In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro overcame a resilient Cameroon team with a 70-66 win. Marko Simonovic led Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and secured 14 rebounds. Montenegro's balanced scoring saw five players reaching double figures, and they managed to hit an impressive 20 of their 24 free-throw attempts.
For Cameroon, Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points, but their efforts were not enough to overturn Montenegro’s halftime lead of 32-29.
Bahamas Advances in Spain
The Bahamas secured their spot in the knockout round in Valencia, Spain, after leading Group B with a perfect 2-0 record. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. spearheaded the Bahamas' offense with 21 points, while Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds. The Bahamas showcased their long-range shooting by sinking 13 three-pointers and emphasized team play with 24 assists on 31 field goals. Buddy Hield contributed 17 points and 10 assists.
The remaining knockout round spot from Group B will be decided in the upcoming clash between Poland and Finland.
Philippines, Spain Impress
The Philippines continued their strong showing, defeating Latvia 89-80. Justin Brownlee nearly secured a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Kai Sotto chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds. Latvia's Rodions Kurucs attempted to spark a late comeback, trimming a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to just 10 points, but it was not enough.
Spain, too, had a successful outing, prevailing 89-81 against Angola. Santiago Aldama led Spain with 24 points, assisted by Willy Hernangomez's 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jilson Bango was Angola’s top performer with 15 points and nine rebounds. Angola now faces a must-win game against Lebanon to join Spain in the knockout round.
As the qualifiers progress, teams from across the globe continue to battle for a coveted spot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, showcasing the high stakes and intense competition that defines international basketball.