“We are a tough team that never gives up,” was the message sent by the national coach Vassilis Spanoulis after the game against Canada and the 86-79 defeat.
“The most important thing is that the boys never gave up. We have built this mentality in such a short period, a team that never stops fighting. We have seen this in all the official games. We are a tough team,” he told ERT.
He added, “We started the game very pressured, it’s the pressure of the premiere, something that happens and it’s not a problem. We reacted, brought the game to where we wanted at the end, and lost it by one possession.
“I am very proud of the boys. This is how I want us to compete. This is the Greek team, this is its DNA and identity, and this is the way that will make us leave this tournament successfully.
“We respected Canada more than we should have and put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. It’s understandable, it’s the premiere of the Olympic tournament against an excellent team that is a favorite. But we all saw that we are an excellent team as well, even though we were not at our best today.”
He also emphasized that “I am sure that the boys also understood what I was telling them, that we are one of the best teams in the world and we will be even better as we go forward.
“It’s not just about the points. Certainly, Antetokounmpo and Papanikolaou played very well, but Kalaitzakis, even though he didn’t score, was decisive.”
