Giannis Antetokounmpo once again showcased his basketball prowess as he 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 "Greek Freak" was unstoppable, scoring an impressive 32 points in just 19 minutes of play.
Antetokounmpo's performance was nothing short of stellar. He maintained a perfect shooting record, making all 11 of his field goal attempts, and also went 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. The highlight of his game was sinking his only three-point attempt. Antetokounmpo's dominant presence on the court was instrumental in propelling Greece to a lead that extended to as many as 27 points during the game. Adding to Greece's scoring efforts, Thomas Walkup contributed 17 points.
Greece's next challenge lies in securing a victory over Egypt on Thursday to advance to the semifinal round. The qualifiers in Greece are part of a broader series of tournaments taking place in Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. These competitions will determine the four remaining participants for the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The group play at all four venues concludes on Thursday, with semifinal matches scheduled for Saturday and championship games on Sunday.
New Zealand also made a statement in the Group A contest in Piraeus, edging past Croatia 90-86 in a tightly contested match. Corey Webster and Shea Ili led the charge for New Zealand, scoring 21 and 18 points respectively. Ili's crucial layup in the final minute ensured New Zealand's victory. Ivica Zubac was a standout performer for Croatia, recording 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja also made significant contributions. Croatia's four-point differential will guarantee their place in the semifinals, provided Slovenia doesn't defeat New Zealand by more than 21 points.
Montenegro emerged victorious over Cameroon with a 70-66 win in Riga, Latvia. Marko Simonovic led his team with 18 points and six rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic contributed 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montenegro's balanced attack featured five players reaching double figures, and their performance at the free-throw line was exemplary, hitting 20 out of 24 attempts. For Cameroon, Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each scored 14 points.
Meanwhile, the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round in Valencia, Spain, largely due to a standout performance from Valdez Edgecombe Jr., who led with 21 points. Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Buddy Hield scored 17 points and recorded 10 assists. The Bahamas' offensive efficiency was highlighted by their 13 successful three-pointers and 24 assists on 31 field goals. The Bahamas currently hold a 2-0 record in Group B, with Poland and Finland set to clash to determine the other semifinalist from the group.
In other action, the Philippines secured a hard-fought 89-80 victory over Latvia. Justin Brownlee was a key player for the Philippines, recording 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite Latvia's efforts to trim a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to just 10 points, the Philippines maintained their lead. Rodions Kurucs was the top scorer for Latvia with 18 points.
Spain also emerged victorious, defeating Angola 89-81. Santiago Aldama led the Spanish side with 24 points, while Willy Hernangomez contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. For Angola, Jilson Bango scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Angola needs to secure a win against Lebanon to join Spain in advancing to the knockout round.
Vassilis Spanoulis, reflecting on Antetokounmpo's performance and commitment to the team, 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."
In another emotional moment, Reuben Te Rangi lauded New Zealand's efforts after their win against Croatia, saying, "It was a gutsy win for our team."
Dario Saric of Croatia provided insight into their challenging match, commenting, "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."
As the qualification tournaments progress, each game brings teams one step closer to the ultimate goal of earning a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics, promising more thrilling basketball action in the days ahead.