Antetokounmpo, Greece triumph at home FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to seal return to Olympics after 16 years
The wait is over, as Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to an unbeaten run in Piraeus and back into the Olympics, for the first time since 2008.
PIRAEUS (Greece) – Greece will compete in the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2008, after clinching on Sunday their fourth win in as many games at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament which they hosted in Piraeus.
There were scenes of jubilation in the Peace and Friendship Stadium immediately after the end of the Final of the tournament, as Greece prevailed 80-69 over Croatia in front of 11,810 fans.
Greece jumped in the lead soon after the start and led for most of the encounter, albeit they were only able to truly shake off the resilient Croatia late in the final frame led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nick Calathes and Giorgos Papagiannis.
Antetokounmpo, the Greek superstar of the Milwaukee Bucks, was named TISSOT MVP of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Greece. He led the way for his team in the Final, with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while he averaged 22.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the tournament.
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In Piraeus, Greece won Group B with two wins in as many games, ahead of Dominican Republic at 1-1 and Egypt, who lost both games in the group phase. The tournament hosts continued their undefeated march into the Semi-Finals, where they powered past Slovenia, 96-68.
Croatia finished tied with Slovenia and New Zealand at 1-1 in Group A, but topped the group thanks to their superior point differential in the three-way tie. In the Semi-Finals, they prevailed 80-77 over Dominican Republic in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire.
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Greece will be placed in Group A of the Olympic Basketball Tournament, according to the results of the draw for the Paris 2024 Men’s and Women’s tournaments, that took place at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball on March 18.
In Group A they will face Australia, Canada and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, which comes to a conclusion later on Sunday.
There are three groups in total, of four teams each. The teams placed first and second in each group, as well and the two best third-placed teams in the group phase, will qualify for the Quarter-Finals at Paris 2024.
FIBA
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