In a stirring display of athleticism and teamwork, Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded Greece's commanding 109-82 triumph over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Piraeus, Greece. Antetokounmpo's stellar performance was nothing short of breathtaking as he racked up an impressive 32 points in just 19 minutes on the court.
The ‘Greek Freak’ showcased his dominance by making all 11 of his field goal attempts, demonstrating an exceptional level of efficiency. Additionally, he went 9-of-13 from the free-throw line and sank his only three-point attempt, further solidifying his crucial role in Greece’s victory. His contributions were complemented by Thomas Walkup, who added 17 points, helping Greece maintain a lead by as many as 27 points during the game.
Greek head coach Vassilis Spanoulis praised Antetokounmpo's commitment and humility, stating, "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."
The victory puts Greece in a prime position; they now need a win against Egypt on Thursday to advance to the semifinal round. The qualifiers in Greece form part of a larger series of tournaments also taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain, which will determine four participants in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play at all four venues concludes on Thursday, with semifinal matches set for Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand Edges Croatia in a Group A Thriller
In another highlight from the tournament, New Zealand narrowly edged past Croatia with 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 layup in the final minute proved decisive, sealing the win for New Zealand in a tense finish.
Despite the loss, Croatia's Ivica Zubac had a standout performance, scoring 29 points and recording 16 rebounds. Croatia’s Dario Saric acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining momentum after their emotional win over Slovenia, saying, "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 now hinges their semifinal hopes on Slovenia failing to defeat New Zealand by 21 points or more.
Montenegro Triumphs Over Cameroon in Riga
Meanwhile, over in Riga, Latvia, Montenegro secured a hard-fought 70-66 victory against Cameroon. Marko Simonovic led the charge for Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds. The team saw contributions from five players who reached double figures in scoring, with Nikola Vucevic adding 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montenegro also excelled from the free-throw line, hitting 20 out of 24 attempts.
For Cameroon, Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points, keeping their team competitive until the very end.
Bahamas Advance to Knockout Round in Valencia
In Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round, buoyed by Valdez Edgecombe Jr.'s team-leading 21 points. Deandre Ayton also played a significant role, scoring 18 points and recording nine rebounds. The Bahamas exhibited a strong team effort, making 13 successful three-pointers and tallying an impressive 24 assists on 31 field goals. Buddy Hield contributed with 17 points and 10 assists, ensuring the Bahamas maintained their undefeated 2-0 record in Group B. As Poland and Finland are set to face off, the winner will join the Bahamas in the semifinal round.
Philippines Overcome Latvia
Elsewhere, the Philippines achieved an 89-80 victory over Latvia. Justin Brownlee's near triple-double performance of 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists spearheaded the win. Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds, helping the Philippines withstand Latvia's late surge that trimmed a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points. Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points in a valiant, albeit unsuccessful, effort.
Spain Fends off Angola
In another notable matchup, Spain defeated Angola 89-81, with Santiago Aldama scoring 24 points and Willy Hernangomez adding 22 points and 10 rebounds. Despite Jilson Bango's 15 points and nine rebounds for Angola, the team now faces a must-win matchup against Lebanon to advance to the knockout round alongside Spain.
As the Olympic qualifying tournaments continue to unfold across different continents, the competition intensifies with each passing game. The stakes are high, and the performances are nothing short of spectacular, promising an electrifying road to the 2024 Paris Olympics.