Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a masterclass performance to lead Greece to a dominant 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 prowess by scoring 32 points in just 19 minutes, making all 11 of his field goal attempts. Antetokounmpo's efficiency was further highlighted by his 9-of-13 shooting from the free-throw line and a perfect single three-point attempt.
Thomas Walkup also made significant contributions for Greece, adding 17 points as the team led by as many as 27 points during the game. Greece’s emphatic win sets up a crucial match against Egypt on Thursday, a must-win to advance to the semifinals.
Reflecting on Antetokounmpo's performance and his impact on the team, Vassilis Spanoulis shared, "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."
Global Qualifying Tournaments
The qualifiers in Greece form part of a broader series of tournaments held in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. From these high-stakes competitions, four teams will earn the coveted spots in the men's basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play across all four venues concludes on Thursday, setting the stage for semifinal matches on Saturday, and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand Edges Croatia
In a thrilling Group A contest in Piraeus, New Zealand narrowly edged past Croatia with a 90-86 victory. Corey Webster and Shea Ili spearheaded New Zealand’s efforts, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's crucial layup in the final minute secured the win for New Zealand. Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac delivered a herculean performance for Croatia, scoring 29 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Despite their loss, Croatia remains hopeful of advancing to the semifinals, needing Slovenia to avoid a 21-point win over New Zealand to secure their spot.
Dario Saric, reflecting on the performance, 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."
Montenegro Overcomes Cameroon
In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro eked out a hard-fought 70-66 victory over Cameroon. Marko Simonovic led Montenegro with 18 points and six rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montenegro capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, converting 20 out of 24 attempts. Cameroon put up a valiant fight with Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each contributing 14 points.
Bahamas Shines in Spain
The Bahamas continued their impressive run in Valencia, Spain, advancing to the knockout round with a 2-0 record in Group B. Valdez Edgecombe Jr. led the charge with 21 points, while Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds. The Bahamas showcased exceptional teamwork, recording 24 assists on 31 field goals and making 13 successful three-pointers. Buddy Hield's 17 points and 10 assists were crucial in sustaining the team's momentum. Poland and Finland will clash to determine the semifinalist joining the Bahamas in the next round.
Philippines and Spain Secure Wins
The Philippines secured a notable 89-80 victory over Latvia. Justin Brownlee was outstanding, narrowly missing a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds as the Philippines managed to stave off Latvia’s fourth-quarter surge that cut a 21-point deficit to just 10 points. Rodions Kurucs was the standout for Latvia with 18 points.
Meanwhile, in a closely contested game, Spain triumphed over Angola 89-81. Santiago Aldama led Spain with 24 points, while Willy Hernangomez contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jilson Bango led Angola’s efforts with 15 points and nine rebounds. To advance to the knockout round along with Spain, Angola will need a victory against Lebanon.
As the Olympic qualifying tournaments reach their crescendo, teams worldwide continue to leave it all on the court, vying for a chance to compete on the grand stage in Paris next year.