With the Greek national team ahead 20-12 in the first quarter, Spain needed to resort to veteran leadership to take over the game in the following minutes and build a strong advantage going into the half. Sergio Llull was once again there to save the Spain NT when Sergio Scariolo’s group needed it the most.
Sergio Llull finished with 13 points, Santi Aldama led his team’s scoring efforts with 19 playing against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Roja downed Greece 84-77 to keep its hopes alive for qualification in the Olympic Tournament knockout phase. Greece was outscored 28-13 in the second quarter, and had to climb back from a 14-point (49-35) first-half deficit coming one shot away from tying the game in the last 25 seconds of the regulation.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the force that brought back Greece as the Greek Freak scored 27 points and added 11 rebounds. Vassilis Spanoulis’ team struggled with its shot from beyond the arc, while the Spaniards decided to build the usual wall around Giannis to prevent easy buckets inside the paint.
Once Spanoulis squad found some form of rhythm from outside the arc with Vassilis Toliopoulos (14 points, 4 threes), the Greeks balanced the game and came close to a comeback victory. Spain will play for its qualification in the knockout phase against Canada. At the same time, Greece will wait to learn the winner of the upcoming game between Canada and Australia.
The Greek national team needs Canada to beat Australia in order to have a chance to advance to the next round.
Group A schedule and results after Spain’s victory
Group AÂ Â Â PD
Spain 3Â Â Â Â -5
Canada 2Â Â +7
Greece 2Â Â -14
Australia 1Â +12
Group A upcoming games Schedule
30/7 Spain vs Greece 84-77
30/7 14:30 Canada vs Australia
2/8 14:30 Australia vs Greece
2/8 18:15 Canada vs Spain
