When in 2017 the Greek national team brought together the four Antetokounmpo brothers for the first time, Giannis said it was a dream come true. But he also added another: “To win a medal for Greece.” Since Sunday, the Bucks star can also tick that off his list. Now he just needs to make Greece champions.
The team successfully led by Vasilis Spanoulis (who is a EuroLeague runner-up with Monaco), took the bronze medal by defeating Finland 92-89. They did so in a clash that was broken in the middle of the second quarter, which was evened again in the middle of the third act, and that traveled with the wind in favor for Greece, 86-75 at 1:38, but that was complicated at the end. In fact, Finland had the tie in their hands.
With five seconds to go, 90-87, Papanikolaou fouled Salin on a three-pointer. The new Estudiantes player made the first two, but missed the third, the rebound, which was grabbed by Jantunen, missed when he had everything in his favour. The second rebound was grabbed by Giannis Antetokounmpo who was fouled and made both free throws. Jantunen, from a long way out, missed the final three-pointer.
Greece, this time, relied on its star, Giannis, who came from his worst game in the EuroBasket in the semifinal against Turkey (12 points) and sought to make amends. He did so with 30 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and a PIR of 43, imposing his law in the paint with a fabulous 9/11 shooting from the field. His performance was crucial in the first big Greek stretch, a 48-34 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Finland tried to react and cut the deficit to 59-53 with two free throws from Salin. Finland was more of a team effort, with Markkanen, 19+10, Valtonen, 18, Jantunen, 13 or Nkamhoua, 15, contributing. The Finns pressed at the end, took advantage of the fact that the Greeks already saw themselves on the podium and were close to equalizing. In the end, they missed the opportunity to win their country’s first medal.
The Finnish momentum was insufficient against the play of Giannis, the minutes of inspiration of Mitoglou, seven points in a row until 73-59, taking advantage of the fact that Antetokounmpo was being treated for a hand injury on the bench and, above all, the great game of Tyler Dorsey
The Olympiacos player had an excellent tournament and a great bronze medal final. He went up to 20 points with 5/9 in three-pointers, one of them established the maximum for Greece, 81-64 with 4:32 to go. He was the best ally from the perimeter of Giannis so that the Hellenic colossus fulfilled his great dream of giving his country a medal in an international tournament.
It’s not a new feeling for Greece. The one achieved in Riga is the sixth in a EuroBasket for the Hellenic team, the third bronze, but they had gone five editions without being on the podium. The closest was fifth place in 2015. Now, Giannis has his medal.
Technical data
92 – Greece (24+24+21+23): Sloukas (7), Dorsey (20), Papanikolau (4), Ktsivelis (-), Giannis Anteotkounmpo (30) -cinco inicial-; Samodurov (-), Toliopoulos (15), Kalaitzakis (5), Kostas Antetokounmpo (3), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (-), Mitoglou (8).
89 – Finland (15+19+22+33): Little (6), Grandison (8), Valtonen (18), Jantunen (13), Markkanen (19) -cinco inicial-, Salin (5), Nkamhoua (15), Maxhuni (-), Muurinen (5), Gustavson (-).
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