Vasilis Toliopoulos made a great start in both defense and offense, taking initiatives for the Greek National Team against the Netherlands and providing scoring solutions alongside Vasilis Charalampopoulos. The Greek team fully imposed its rhythm on defense in the first quarter, keeping the Dutch low and greatly hindering their efforts, despite only two assists against six turnovers.
Greece concluded the first period ahead with a score of 12-16, with four blocks, three from Kostas Antetokounmpo, and forcing the hosts to shoot 6/20 from the field (0/4 from beyond the arc). However, the Dutch managed to score 13-2 in parts for 25-18 by the 14th minute. Greece presented complete defensive breakdown in the second period, conceding 19 points in six minutes while allowing only 12 points in the first period.
Carelessness and poor decisions led to 11 turnovers, giving the Dutch second chances with nine offensive rebounds. The hosts outscored 27-16 in the second period and went to the locker room leading 39-32 against Greece, which completely lost its focus on defense. However, Vasilis Spanoulis found a solution with the three-guard lineup, and Greece reduced its turnovers, shooting with good percentages beyond the 6.75-meter line.
The game’s dynamic changed when the easy mistakes stopped, and Toliopoulos was the absolute protagonist in the third period, providing valuable solutions in the offense and scoring 15 points during that period. Greece made only one mistake in the third quarter, scoring 30 points and leading 58-62 by the 30th minute. However, the offensive rebounds of the Dutch caused significant damage to Greece, which remained without scoring for 3.5 minutes at the beginning of the fourth quarter before Kalaitzakis scored for 63-64 in the 34th minute.
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After Toliopoulos’s offensive spree in the third period, the Greek team lost its scoring touch. Moraitis gave the lead to Greece with a three-pointer (68-69), but poor choices gave the Netherlands the opportunity to lead again. Nevertheless, Toliopoulos made a difficult shot for 71-72 with 29.5 seconds left. Immediately after, Franke missed a three-pointer, and Charalampopoulos dunked for 71-74 with 1.3 seconds left!
Kuzeloglou grabbed a last rebound and Greece secured the victory with 72-74.
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