A super performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo has steered Greece into the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2025 after beating Israel 84-79 in Latvia on Monday morning (AEST).
The Greek Freak scored close to half of the team’s points with 37 to help the “blue-whites” secure their spot in the final eight, with their next opponent being Lithuania on Wednesday morning.
The scoreboard read at the end of each quarter: 28-22, 50-41, 67-59, 84-79.
Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis acknowledged his side were not at their best in the game, stressing they can play better than what they showed.
“I think it’s very important that we won this game. We weren’t accurate today, we were nervous, but it’s logical, it’s the first knockout match,” Spanoulis told ERT post-game.
He stated they have to continue playing their brand of basketball and work towards improvement in the coming games.
“The most important thing is to find solutions in these games even on the day when you don’t make the shots. We were pretty good in transition and rebounding. We have to look at some parts to improve them and in every game from now on we will be better.”
Speaking on the Lithuania clash and their broader expectations at the tournament, Spanoulis noted:
“Now we need to rest. We have almost two days, because on Tuesday we theoretically play late. We will prepare for the game…Obviously they (the players) are motivated, we have prepared well and have come to the tournament ready.”
