Greece set to face Germany in Tuesday’s Olympic Basketball quarterfinals
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Greece’s basketball team has reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thanks to Serbia’s 96-85 victory over South Sudan on Saturday night. Greece, South Sudan, and Brazil all finished third in their respective groups with a 1-2 record. However, Greece advanced due to a better point differential compared to South Sudan and Brazil.
South Sudan kept the game close through three quarters, trailing 23-22 after the first quarter, 47-44 at halftime, and 72-67 after the third. Early in the final quarter, a 3-pointer by Marial Shayok cut South Sudan’s deficit to 78-74. However, the team went on a scoring drought, allowing Serbia a decisive 13-0 run. South Sudan managed to close the gap to 92-85 with another Shayok 3-pointer but did not score again.
Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic led all scorers with 30 points, while Nikola Jokic added 22. Shayok and Carlik Jones each scored 17 for South Sudan. The Greek team needed Serbia to win by at least three points to secure their spot in the quarterfinals, and the Serbs delivered.
Greece will face Group B winners Germany on Tuesday in Paris. To ensure optimal preparation for the quarterfinal match, the Hellenic Basketball Federation announced that the team, coached by Vassilis Spanoulis, will stay in a Paris hotel instead of the Olympic Village. This decision comes after numerous complaints from athletes about the conditions in the Olympic Village, including issues with food and heat.
Greece’s star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his teammates will travel from Lille to Paris on Sunday morning. Other national teams, including Serbia, France, Canada, and the United States, are also expected to avoid the Olympic Village for the knockout stage of the tournament. Alongside Greece, Germany, Australia, and Brazil are the remaining teams in contention.
The quarterfinal matchups at Accor Arena on Tuesday are as follows: Greece vs Germany, Serbia vs Australia, France vs Canada, and the United States vs Brazil. The semifinals will take place on Thursday, with the gold and bronze medal games scheduled for Saturday.
Stay tuned as Greece battles Germany for a spot in the semifinals, aiming to continue their journey towards Olympic glory.
*With AMNA, FIBA
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