The nationwide staff despatched a message in all instructions that it’s the favourite within the Pre-Olympic Event that it’s internet hosting at its “dwelling” by emphatically defeating the Dominican Republic with 109-82 within the packed SEF.
In a wild state, Giannis Antetokounmpo had no rival, providing substance and spectacle with 32 factors with out lacking a shot (10/10 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointer, 9/13 photographs), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in simply 18:10. His predominant supporters are the wonderful Thomas Walkup with 17 factors and an excellent job in protection, but in addition Nick Calathes with 12 factors, 11 assists and three rebounds.
On Thursday at 9:00 p.m. in opposition to Egypt, the Greek staff seals the primary place as nicely, which can know its opponent in Saturday's semi-final (5:30 p.m.) from the result of the match between Slovenia and New Zealand (each candidates however and Croatia).
The match
Walkup, Kalathis, Papanikolaou, G. Antetokounmpo and Papagiannis began the match for the Greek staff. The expatriate guard with an help to the Greek Freak and a layup set the tone early (4-0) for the Nationwide Crew, which reached 10-15 with its “mind” counting 4 factors and three assists and the star of the Bucks one other 6 factors. Three-pointers from Walkup and Papanikolaou introduced the distinction to +8, 13-21, whereas Feliz's unsportsmanlike hit on Costa Antetokounmpo allowed the “official favourite” to shut the quarter with the primary double-digit distinction within the match.
Giannis scared the… nation when Toliopoulos landed on his left knee and knocked him to the ground, however as if nothing had occurred, a private basket and an help to Mitoglou within the shock put Greece up 33-20 and shortly after 36 -27. The three-pointers of Felis and Duarte signaled the response of the Dominicans (27-36), nonetheless the Nationwide Crew – regardless of the breaths for its chief – instantly discovered the solutions from Toliopoulos, Charalambopoulos and Papagiannis and reached 51-37. In reality, with a buzzer beater lengthy three-pointer by Kalathis and an alley oop by Papagianni, he went to the locker room with the most important distinction within the match, 56-41. Vassilis Spanoulis' staff had a tremendous quantity on this first half, with 14/18 two-pointers, 7/15 three-pointers and 16 assists for less than 5 errors.
A (one other) basket and a three-pointer by the Greek Freak launched the Nationwide staff to 61-41 in the beginning of the second half. Feliz and Lees elevated the variety of opponents' three-pointers to seven and… reminded everybody that the sport will not be over (47-61). Antetokounmpo's show-time was unstoppable, with a powerful block that resulted in his personal shock for 67-49. The three-pointers, nonetheless, nonetheless stored the Dominicans up, making 10/21 to get inside eleven, 58-69. However the Nationwide staff didn’t return, as they responded with the identical coin and reached 75-58 with “bombs” from Walkap and Mitoglou, reaching 10/20 three-pointers! Che Garcia's gamers narrowed the hole once more to 10 (75-65), however the “scorching” Walkup made positive with a private 5-0 to complete the quarter at 80-65.
With victory just about assured, the Greek internationals stored their foot off the gasoline climbing to +21 (88-67) seven and a half minutes earlier than the top. Giannis left the sport for good with 4:40 remaining having 32 factors and with the match at 95-72. Coach Spanoulis threw Moraitis into the fray as nicely, giving the “starters” a breather, and the Nationwide Crew put the icing on the cake by reaching the end line with Toliopoulos' three-pointer for 101-77, 2:26 earlier than the top.
Quarters: 25-15, 56-41, 80-65, 109-82
Referees: Vasquez (Puerto Rico), Salins (Latvia), Bonner (USA)
*Within the half-time of the match there was a superb motion with a message for the inclusion of the disabled with Nikos Galis within the heart and a canopy of Closing Countdown (music that accompanied the 1987 epic) dressing the SEF musically.
Supply: sport-fm.gr
