A clutch three-pointer by Vassilis Toliopoulos with just two seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 77-77, forcing overtime. Despite a difficult second quarter, Greece finished strong thanks to key contributions from Ioannis Papapetrou, Toliopoulos, Giorgos Papagiannis, Dimitrios Koutsoukou, and a robust defensive effort against Czech star Tomas Satoransky. Greece will conclude their qualifying campaign against the Netherlands in Patras on February 24th, where they will also honor the 2005 EuroBasket championship team.
The game began with a dominant first quarter for Greece. Strong performances from Toliopoulos, Papagiannis, Papapetrou, and Miltos Mitoglou helped them build a 27-11 lead. They maintained their momentum to finish the quarter up 27-13, shooting an impressive 59% from the field while showcasing excellent ball movement and aggressive defense.
However, the Czech Republic stormed back in the second quarter. Capitalizing on three consecutive Greek turnovers, they chipped away at the lead, eventually tying the game at 29-29. Greece struggled offensively, shooting a dismal 1/8 from the field and committing five turnovers, allowing the Czechs to take a 40-37 lead into halftime.
The momentum shifted again in the third quarter. Papagiannis connected on Greece’s first three-pointer in 11 attempts, sparking a resurgence. The game remained tight throughout the second half, with both teams trading baskets.
In the final minutes, the drama intensified. After a tie at 51-51, Greece went on a 7-0 run fueled by a Janis Larenzakis three-pointer. Toliopoulos and Papapetrou then hit crucial shots to give Greece a 69-64 lead with five minutes remaining. The game remained close, ultimately leading to Toliopoulos’s heroic game-tying three-pointer and the ensuing overtime victory, sending Greece to EuroBasket 2025.
Source: pagenews.gr