Giannis Antetokounmpo showcased his extraordinary talent, lifting Greece to a decisive 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Piraeus, Greece, Olympic qualifying tournament. Antetokounmpo's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored 32 points in just 19 minutes on the court.
Antetokounmpo was flawless in his shooting, making all 11 of his field goal attempts. His dominance continued at the free-throw line, where he went 9-of-13, and he also sank his sole three-point attempt. Thomas Walkup added a commendable 17 points for Greece, who led by as many as 27 points at one stage during the game.
Speaking about Antetokounmpo's impact, Vassilis Spanoulis remarked, "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." With this victory, Greece needs just one more win over Egypt on Thursday to advance to the semifinal round.
Wider Implications for the Tournament
The qualifiers in Greece are a segment of a more extensive series of tournaments taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These events will determine the four final participants in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play at all four venues will wrap up on Thursday, followed by the semifinal matches on Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand Edges Croatia
In a closely contested Group A match in Piraeus, New Zealand narrowly defeated Croatia 90-86. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were standout players for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points, respectively. Ili was particularly clutch, with his layup in the final minute securing the win. Ivica Zubac led Croatia with a double-double performance, tallying 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja also made significant contributions. Croatia's four-point loss margin ensures them a spot in the semifinals, provided Slovenia doesn't beat New Zealand by 21 points or more. Earlier, Croatia had registered an impressive 108-92 win over Slovenia.
Montenegro and the Bahamas Perform Strongly
Meanwhile, in Riga, Latvia, Montenegro edged out Cameroon 70-66. Marko Simonovic was pivotal, scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds. Montenegro saw five players finish in double figures, and Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and 14 rebounds to the team's tally. Montenegro also excelled from the free-throw line, converting 20 out of 24 attempts. For Cameroon, Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points.
In Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round, led by Valdez Edgecombe Jr.'s 21 points. Deandre Ayton chipped in with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Buddy Hield added a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists. The Bahamas recorded a remarkable 13 successful three-pointers and notched 24 assists on 31 field goals. Holding a 2-0 record in Group B, the Bahamas await the result of the Poland vs. Finland match to determine their semifinal opponent.
Other Noteworthy Performances
In other action, the Philippines overcame a strong challenge from Latvia, triumphing 89-80. Justin Brownlee starred for the Philippines with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto supported with 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite a late rally from Latvia, cutting a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points, Rodions Kurucs' 18 points were not enough to seal a comeback.
Over in Spain, the host nation secured an 89-81 win against Angola. Santiago Aldama and Willy Hernangomez were instrumental for Spain, scoring 24 and 22 points respectively, with Hernangomez also recording 10 rebounds. Jilson Bango led Angola with 15 points and nine rebounds. Angola now faces the crucial task of defeating Lebanon to earn a spot in the knockout round alongside Spain.
As the group stages wind down, teams are making their final pushes towards the semifinals, paving the way for a thrilling conclusion to these Olympic qualifiers. Competitors are leaving everything on the court, with dreams of Paris 2024 hanging in the balance.