Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to a dominating 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Piraeus, Greece, Olympic qualifying tournament. The Greek Freak was unstoppable, scoring 32 points in just 19 minutes on the court, showcasing his efficiency by making all 11 of his field goal attempts. Antetokounmpo also added nine free throws on 13 attempts, including sinking his only three-point shot.
Thomas Walkup was another standout for Greece, contributing 17 points. At one point, Greece held a commanding lead of 27 points, leaving no doubt about their dominance. The victory placed Greece in a favorable position, needing just a win over Egypt on Thursday to advance to the semifinal round of the tournament.
Vassilis Spanoulis, reflecting on Antetokounmpo's performance, said, "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 qualifiers in Greece are part of a larger series of international tournaments held in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These qualifiers will determine four participants in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play at all venues concludes on Thursday, followed by semifinal matches on Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
In other Group A action in Piraeus, New Zealand edged past Croatia 90-86 in a thrilling encounter. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were pivotal for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's crucial layup in the final minute sealed the win. However, Croatia's Ivica Zubac was a standout player, scoring 29 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja also made significant contributions for Croatia.
Reflecting on their close defeat, 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." Despite the loss, Croatia holds a favorable position, ensuring their place in the semifinals if Slovenia fails to defeat New Zealand by 21 points or more.
Meanwhile, in Riga, Latvia, Montenegro managed to overcome Cameroon with a 70-66 victory. Marko Simonovic led Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds. Montenegro displayed balanced scoring with five players reaching double figures, including Nikola Vucevic, who added 11 points and 14 rebounds. Their accuracy from the free-throw line, hitting 20 out of 24 attempts, played a crucial role in their success. Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points for Cameroon, but it wasn't enough to prevent their team's defeat.
In Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round with a perfect 2-0 record in Group B. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. led with 21 points, while Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds. Buddy Hield also made a significant impact, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists. The Bahamas' success was highlighted by their proficiency from beyond the arc, making 13 successful three-pointers and recording 24 assists on 31 field goals. Poland and Finland are set to face off to decide the semifinalist that will join the Bahamas.
The Philippines secured a notable win against Latvia, triumphing 89-80. Justin Brownlee was phenomenal, almost achieving a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto supported him well, contributing 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite Latvia's efforts to cut a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points, they fell short, with Rodions Kurucs' 18 points proving insufficient.
In another matchup, Spain defeated Angola 89-81, led by Santiago Aldama's 24 points and Willy Hernangomez's double-double performance of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jilson Bango was the standout for Angola with 15 points and nine rebounds, but his team's quest for victory now hinges on defeating Lebanon to advance to the knockout round alongside Spain.
Following a dramatic series of games, several teams are poised on the brink of advancing to the next stage of the tournament. As the qualifiers move towards the semifinals, the competition remains fierce, and the road to the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to be a challenging one.