Giannis Antetokounmpo’s passion and desire to perform well in front of the Greek crowd that filled the SEF were evident from the first minutes of the match against the Dominican Republic, propelling the Men’s National Team in the Pre-Olympic tournament.
The National Team held its ground against the physical play of the Dominicans, winning 109-82 and securing the first of the four victories needed to earn a ticket to Paris.
Vassilis Spanoulis’ team pulled away in the middle of the second period and the beginning of the third, never feeling threatened by the Dominican Republic. Now, they turn their attention to tomorrow’s (4/7, 21:00) game against Egypt.
As for Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak filled the stat sheet with 32 points, going 10/10 on two-pointers, 1/1 on three-pointers, and 9/13 from the free-throw line, all in front of the legendary Nikos Galis, who was in the Faleri stadium.
New Zealand – Greece: The Match
The National Team played attractive and fast-paced basketball in the first period against the Dominican Republic. With Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating the low post, Thomas Walkup aggressively guarding Chris Duarte, and Georgios Papagiannis ready for three-pointers, Greece aimed to get the ball close to the basket to capitalize on Antetokounmpo’s dominance or to find open shots through good ball movement.
At the same time, the Greek team played solid defense, forcing the Dominican Republic to score at the end of the shot clock. The National Team finished the first quarter with a 15-25 lead, distributing eight assists, five from the essential Nick Kalathis.
Greece then went on a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 20-33, with Mitoglou contributing earlier. Vassilis Toliopoulos landed on Giannis’ ankle, who managed to score nine points in five minutes in the second period, reaching 15 points before heading to the bench. The Dominicans tried to respond with long shots, but Greece maintained a double-digit lead and went to the locker room ahead 41-56, highlighted by Papagiannis’ impressive alley-oop dunk following Kalathis’ seventh assist (10 points). Greece shot 47% from three-point range (7/15) and had 16 assists with only five turnovers, compared to the Dominican Republic’s seven turnovers.
Antetokounmpo then electrified the Stadium of Peace and Friendship with an impressive block on Jean Montero, followed by a score that made it 49-67 in the 25th minute amid wild cheers! This performance brought him to 26 points without missing a shot (9/9 on two-pointers, 1/1 on three-pointers).
The Dominican Republic tried to fight back, cutting the lead to 65-75 with Duarte’s 3-pointer from the corner. However, the National Team always found answers when their opponents closed in and rebuilt their margin of safety. Essentially, Greece was never threatened by the Dominican Republic, ultimately winning 109-82.
The Quarters: 15-25, 41-56, 65-80, 82-109.
Antetokounmpo’s amazing slam dunk, the National Team leads the Dominican Republic in its pre-Olympic premiere.
The Greek men’s national basketball team is set to make its debut in the Pre-Olympic Tournament against the Dominican Republic. Follow the live updates and action as it unfolds.
