In an impressive display of dominance, Giannis Antetokounmpo led 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. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar showcased his multifaceted skill set, scoring an astonishing 32 points in just 19 minutes of play.
Antetokounmpo's performance was nearly flawless as he made all 11 of his field goal attempts, went 9-of-13 from the free-throw line, and even sank his only three-point attempt. His incredible efficiency and versatility were pivotal in Greece's triumph. "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," said Greece's head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, encapsulating Antetokounmpo's committed and team-oriented nature.
Adding to Greece's offensive firepower was Thomas Walkup, who contributed 17 points. Greece built a substantial lead, peaking at 27 points during the game, underlining their dominant form. With this victory, Greece now needs a win over Egypt on Thursday to secure a spot in the semifinal round.
The Quest for Olympic Spots
The qualifiers in Greece are part of a broader series of tournaments taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These tournaments are essential in determining the final four participants for the men’s basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play at all four venues will conclude on Thursday, followed by semifinal matches on Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand's Narrow Win
In another thrilling encounter, New Zealand edged past Croatia with a 90-86 victory in Group A in Piraeus. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were standout performers for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's layup in the final minute clinched the win for New Zealand. "It was a gutsy win for our team," said Reuben Te Rangi, reflecting on the hard-fought triumph.
Croatia's Ivica Zubac put on an impressive show with 29 points and 16 rebounds, receiving significant support from Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja. Despite their close defeat, Croatia's four-point differential means they will advance to the semifinals unless Slovenia manages to defeat New Zealand by 21 points or more. This comes after Croatia's previous 108-92 win over Slovenia. "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," said Saric, acknowledging the challenge his team faced.
Montenegrin Resilience in Latvia
In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro overcame a resilient Cameroon by a 70-66 scoreline. Marko Simonovic led the way for Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds. The team featured five players scoring in double figures, demonstrating their depth and balanced attack. Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and 14 rebounds, underscoring his presence on both ends of the floor. Key to their victory was their accuracy from the free-throw line, converting 20 out of 24 attempts.
Cameroon's effort was spearheaded by Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe, both scoring 14 points each. Despite their commendable efforts, Cameroon fell short in the tightly contested game.
Bahamas Shines in Spain
Meanwhile, in Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas continued their strong campaign by advancing to the knockout round. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. led the team with 21 points, while Deandre Ayton contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Their offensive prowess was highlighted by making 13 successful three-pointers and recording an impressive 24 assists on 31 field goals. Buddy Hield was also instrumental, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists. The Bahamas' dominant showing has them sitting comfortably with a 2-0 record in Group B.
The contenders for the other semifinal spot from this group will be decided in a face-off between Poland and Finland.
Philippines and Spain Victorious
In other action, the Philippines secured an 89-80 win over Latvia. Justin Brownlee starred for the Philippines with an all-around performance of 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, accompanied by Kai Sotto's 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite Latvia trimming a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points, they could not complete the comeback. Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.
Furthermore, Spain emerged victorious over Angola with an 89-81 score. Santiago Aldama scored 24 points for Spain, while Willy Hernangomez added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Angola's Jilson Bango put up a respectable performance with 15 points and nine rebounds. To advance to the knockout round alongside Spain, Angola will need a win against Lebanon.