In a scintillating display of dominance, Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to a commanding 109-82 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Group B stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Piraeus, Greece. The perennial NBA All-Star was in superb form, notching up 32 points in just 19 minutes of play.
Antetokounmpo's performance was nothing short of clinical. He sank all 11 of his field goal attempts and hit his only three-point attempt. While his free-throw shooting wasn't perfect, going 9-of-13 from the line, it was more than sufficient to stymie the Dominican defense. "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," said Vassilis Spanoulis, shedding light on what drives this basketball phenom.
Thomas Walkup also made a significant contribution, adding 17 points to Greece's tally. Greece led by as many as 27 points during the game, a testament to their all-round play. With this win, Greece has positioned itself favorably for a semifinal berth, needing only a victory over Egypt in their next match to advance.
The qualifiers in Greece are part of a larger series taking place simultaneously in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. At the end of these tournaments, four teams will earn their spots in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Group play at all four venues will draw to a close on Thursday, with semifinal matches scheduled for Saturday and championship games set for Sunday.
New Zealand Edges Past Croatia
In Group A action back in Piraeus, New Zealand narrowly defeated Croatia 90-86. Corey Webster and Shea Ili were pivotal for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's clutch layup in the final minute sealed the win for New Zealand. "It was a gutsy win for our team," said Reuben Te Rangi, encapsulating the hard-fought nature of the contest.
Croatia did not go down without a fight. Ivica Zubac was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 29 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Contributions from Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja ensured that Croatia stayed competitive throughout. Despite the loss, Croatia's four-point differential keeps their semifinal hopes alive unless Slovenia manages to defeat New Zealand by a margin of 21 points or more. Croatia earlier registered a decisive 108-92 victory over Slovenia, giving them a buffer in the standings.
Montenegro Prevails in Riga
Over in Riga, Latvia, Montenegro clinched a tight 70-66 victory over Cameroon. Marko Simonovic led the charge with 18 points and six rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic contributed a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montenegro's balanced attack saw five players scoring in double digits, and their accuracy at the free-throw line—20 out of 24 attempts—proved to be a difference-maker. Cameroon, buoyed by Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe's 14 points each, made it a close contest but ultimately fell short.
Bahamas Advances in Valencia
In Valencia, Spain, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round with a show-stopping performance led by Valdez Edgecombe Jr. and Deandre Ayton. Edgecombe Jr. scored 21 points, while Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds. The Bahamas demonstrated their shooting prowess, sinking 13 successful three-pointers and recording 24 assists on 31 field goals. Buddy Hield was instrumental, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists. With a 2-0 record in Group B, the Bahamas await the result of the Poland-Finland match to determine who joins them in the semifinals.
Philippines Triumph Over Latvia
In another gripping match, the Philippines triumphed over Latvia 89-80. Justin Brownlee was phenomenal, scoring 26 points along with nine rebounds and nine assists. Kai Sotto chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite Latvia's late surge—cutting a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 points—it wasn't enough to overtake the Philippines. Rodions Kurucs led the Latvian effort with 18 points.
Spain Secures Knockout Berth
Rounding off the action, Spain secured an 89-81 win against Angola. Santiago Aldama and Willy Hernangomez were the standout performers for Spain, scoring 24 and 22 points respectively, with Hernangomez also pulling down 10 rebounds. For Angola, Jilson Bango put up 15 points and nine rebounds. Angola now faces a must-win situation against Lebanon to secure a place in the knockout round alongside Spain.
As the group stages draw to a close, the anticipation builds for the upcoming semifinal and championship matches. With high-stakes games on the horizon, the journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics is intensifying, promising fans a series of thrilling basketball action.