Powerful Greece ready for medal charge in China
AGONAsport previews the 2019 FIBA World Cup for Greece, as the Episimi Agapimeni aim to return to greatness with a deep run at the competition.
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Here we go! The waiting is over. On Sunday, Greece will begin their World Cup campaign in China against Montenegro, before playing two more matches in Group F against Brazil and New Zealand. The Greeks are hot favourites to advance to the second round in first place of the group. Here is the Group F schedule for Greece:
Greece - Montenegro, September 1, 15:00*
Brazil - Greece, September 3, 15:00
Greece - New Zealand, September 5, 15:00
*Greek time
All Group F matches will take place in Nanjing.
Greece qualified for the World Cup in impressive fashion. In 12 qualifying matches, the team claimed a large 11 victories, blitzing all those who dared come before them in the qualifying process, comfortably punching their ticket to China. The only defeat was suffered against Serbia on the road in the latter stages of the campaign. You can read a full summary of the qualifying campaign on the following link.
The objective for Greece is clear: the team must return home with a medal. In an ideal world, gold would be fantastic, and considering the strong roster that is certainly possible. Nevertheless, after suffering elimination in the Round of 16 of both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, any medal would be greeted warmly by the Hellenic public. Greece’s last World Cup medal was a silver one at the 2006 competition when the team famously defeated the USA in the semi-finals.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo factor has immediately risen Greece’s already big profile. This September, the Most Valuable Player of the 2018/2019 NBA season is making his long-awaited return to the international stage, and the talented 24-year-old is carrying the hopes of a nation on his back. However, this is not a one-man team, with the likes of Panathinaikos and EuroLeague star Nick Calathes, the rapidly improving Ioannis Papapetrou, the vastly experienced Giannis Bourousis and Fenerbahce leader Kostas Sloukas all boasting plenty of pedigree.
In the friendly matches this summer, Greece have largely played promising basketball especially in attack, winning seven out of eight games alongside triumphing at the Aegean Tournament and the Atlas Tournament. A detailed summary of all friendlies can be found here.
There are the 12 players to represent Greece at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China:
PG: Nick Calathes, Vangelis Mantzaris.
SG: Kostas Sloukas, Giannoulis Larentzakis.
SF: Kostas Papanikolaou, Ioannis Papapetrou, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Giorgos Printezis, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos.
C: Giannis Bourousis, Giorgos Papagiannis.
KEY PLAYERS
Who else but Giannis Antetokounmpo? The NBA MVP is ready to shine in China. Visibly full of motivation to succeed with Greece, Antetokounmpo has openly spoke of his overwhelming desire to steer the country to World Cup glory, and he is capable of single-handedly winning matches. To have the MVP of the NBA on our team is something we must all appreciate.
In the friendly games, Antetokounmpo has played with real energy and enthusiasm, setting personal records along the way. His power breaking forward in transition, his ability to block opposing shots...Antetokounmpo is a phenomenon of the game. He feels the time has arrived to write history in the national team’s books.
Nick Calathes is the “best passer in the game” according to Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, the head coach of Panathinaikos in the second half of the 2018/2019 season. Calathes is absolutely key to keeping the team ticking. Over the years, the 30-year-old has been one of the best players of the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos, regularly achieving double-doubles and almost always gaining a minimum of 10 assists. His sheer intelligence on the court is often too good for the opponents to deal with. Maybe the most naturally talented player to currently be playing his basketball in Europe instead of North America.
Giannis Bourousis, now 35 years of age, is ninth in the list of all-time appearances and points for the senior Greek national team. A statistic to be proud of.
The experienced, reliable center has competed in 169 games for Greece, contributing with 1620 points in those matches. Although he is ageing, he’s still very much a tough player to beat under the net, and the experience he carries on his shoulders will come in handy. Bourousis was a member of the team which won EuroBasket 2005 and bronze at the 2009 edition of the competition. In the World Cup qualifiers, Bourousis was a key figure for Greece, in particular registering 25 points in a match against Germany:
