The National Team beat Great Britain 77-67 in the PAOK Sports Arena packed with 8,000 fans and are now waiting to seal qualification for EuroBasket 2025 in the February “window”. Great performance by Kostas Papanikolaou!
OR Men’s National Team she took another step towards her qualification to the final stage EuroBasket 2025prevailing on her of Great Britain with 77-67 in the shop PAOK Sports Arena and improve their record to 3-1 in the Group F of the qualifiers.
Therefore, the Greek team will have the opportunity to seal the “ticket” for the Pan-European Championship in the next “window” of February, with Papanikolaou cost put on a commanding performance, filled his stat line with 14 points (4/6 doubles, 1/3 triples, 3/3 vol.), ten rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block in 32:58 left in the parquet !
Greece-Great Britain: The game
OR National try to impose his speed against the Great Britain however, the guests confirmed from the start that the game at PAOK Sports Arena it would not be easy. The British scored three baskets in the surprise for 15-14 in the 8′, with Olaseni to lead his team aggressively.
However, the first period ended in “Palataki” 17-15 for the Greece who had 0/4 three pointers in that area, forcing the Great Britain in eight mistakes! OR Great Britain he took the lead on the score with it Ellis (22-24) but the Greek team responded immediately to his three pointers Giannouli Larentzakis for 27-24, he excited the approximately 8,000 National team fans in the stands!
The figure with them Luntzi–Lorentzakis in the region it paid off for Greece who made four straight steals and began to build a difference, going to the locker room with a 40-32 advantage.
After that, the Nikos Hugaz the difference rose to double digits for the first time, making it 42-32 and o Michalis Lountzis hit a three pointer for +13 (47-34, 24′)!
In any case, Great Britain Stayed in the game, gradually gnawing away at the gap and reduce it to 57-50. THE Gabriel Olaseni reduced to four (66-62) but the National team found solutions and Papanikolaou hit a big 3 pointer in a layup for 74-62 with 4:25 left! THE Catholic hit a 3-pointer from the corner for 77-62, effectively sealing the 77-67 victory for Greece.
The ten minutes: 17-15, 40-32, 57-50, 77-67.
Win BECAUSE: The national team had better options in the last period, when Great Britain made the last attempt to respond and the great three pointers of Papanikolaou and Kalaitzakis sealed the victory.
THE BEST OF ALL: Kostas Papanikolaou was made available to Vassilis Spanoulis for the second game against Britain, after 14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, one block but also six errors in 32:58.
COMPETITION IN VICTORY: Panagiotis Kalaitzakis (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Naz Mitrou-Long (12 points, 4 assists) were crucial in the victory of the National team.
COUNCIL STATISTICS: 27 mistakes of Great Britain.
Their Next Obligation: Greece face the Czech Republic away (21/2) and Great Britain are tested in the Netherlands (21/2) for the February “window”.
How does home-court advantage influence a basketball team’s performance during crucial games?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Basketball Expert
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have a fantastic guest joining us, basketball analyst and former player, Alex Michas. We’re here to discuss the recent victory of the Greek National Team over Great Britain, which brought them closer to qualifying for EuroBasket 2025. Thank you for being here, Alex!
Alex Michas (AM): Thank you for having me! It’s great to talk about such an exciting game.
TNE: Let’s dive right in. The Greek National Team secured a 77-67 victory at the PAOK Sports Arena, in front of a packed crowd of nearly 8,000 fans. What do you think contributed most to their success in this match?
AM: It was a well-rounded team performance, but I have to highlight Kostas Papanikolaou. His stats were impressive: 14 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists! He really set the tone for the team both offensively and defensively throughout the game.
TNE: Absolutely, Papanikolaou’s performance was crucial. Can you break down his contributions and the impact they had on the team’s morale?
AM: Papanikolaou not only scored but also facilitated plays, which kept the flow of the game favorable for Greece. His defensive contributions, like the steals and blocks, energized the crowd and his teammates. Players feed off that energy. When he hit that crucial three-pointer late in the game, it was like a dagger for Great Britain and a huge boost for Greece.
TNE: Speaking of energy, the atmosphere in the arena must have been electric. How important do you think home-court advantage was in this game?
AM: It plays a vital role! The fans were behind the team, and that can make a big difference in basketball. The supporters provided the players with motivation, especially when the game was tight, and Great Britain started to close the gap. The noise from the stands can lift the players’ spirits during crucial moments.
TNE: Great Britain started strong and even led at times. What adjustments do you think Greece made to turn the tide in their favor?
AM: Greece’s ability to impose their pace after the first quarter was key. They adjusted defensively, putting pressure on Great Britain, who made eight turnovers in the first half. Those steals were pivotal; they not only stifled Great Britain’s offensive rhythm but also allowed Greece to convert those turnovers into easy points.
TNE: Let’s look ahead to the big picture. With this win, Greece improved its record to 3-1 in Group F and now stands on the brink of EuroBasket 2025 qualification. What does Greece need to do in the next window to secure their spot?
AM: Consistency will be critical. They need to maintain this level of performance across all areas—offence, defense, and teamwork. Continuing to minimize turnovers and build on their rebounding strength will be important. If they can carry this momentum into the next qualifiers in February, I have no doubt they’ll secure their place in EuroBasket 2025!
TNE: Well, it certainly looks promising for the Greek team. Thank you for sharing your insights, Alex. Any final thoughts?
AM: Just to emphasize how exciting it is to see the Greek National Team competing at a high level again. The foundation is there, and with support from the fans and continued hard work, they could make a deep run at EuroBasket!
TNE: Thanks again, Alex. It’s always a pleasure to discuss basketball with you. We’ll be watching Greece closely in the coming months!
AM: Thanks for having me! Looking forward to seeing how they progress!