The Greece cadet national basketball team defeated Slovenia 83-78 in the Eurobasket U16 tournament to advance to the quarterfinals. The Greek team will face Latvia in the round of eight on August 12, following Latvia's elimination of Serbia.
Thanasis Spanoulis led Greece with a double-double, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds. Giorgos Monamas also scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the victory.
First Half Comeback
Slovenia opened the game with a quick 6-0 run in the first minute. Spanoulis answered for Greece to make the score 6-3 after one minute and 18 seconds, but Slovenia extended its lead to 11-3 by the second minute.
Slovenia held an 18-9 advantage in the fourth minute as Greece worked to recover. The Greek squad responded when its defense improved, with Kapsalis scoring to narrow the deficit to 20-16 before the first period ended 26-23 in favor of Slovenia.
Head coach Dimitris Misiakos watched his team maintain momentum into the second quarter. Slovenia led 26-18 in the ninth minute before Monamas cut the gap to 26-25 at 10 minutes and 25 seconds.
Spanoulis scored four consecutive points, recorded a steal, and passed to Spanos for an assist between 12 minutes and 40 seconds and 14 minutes and 45 seconds. The sequence turned a 32-27 deficit into a 32-33 score, giving Greece its first lead. Spanos added points and Barlos made it 42-43 at 18 minutes and 30 seconds as Greece balanced the rebounds to close the first half leading 42-44.
Second Half Battle
The two teams remained close throughout the third quarter without either side pulling away. Slovenia led 50-47 at 21 minutes and 15 seconds, but Monamas scored to give Greece a 50-51 lead at 23 minutes and 23 seconds.
Monamas and Spanoulis led the third-quarter offense, with Spanoulis making it 60-62 in the 27th minute. Sasloglou added free throws to finish the period with Greece ahead 63-66.
Fourth Quarter Finish
Charalampidis and Barlos pushed the Greek lead to six points at 66-72 before Slovenia pulled back to 70-72 at 33 minutes and 20 seconds. Monamas and Christodoulou answered to extend the lead to 70-76 at 34 minutes and 20 seconds.
Greece earned second-chance opportunities but failed to score, allowing Blazic to cut the Slovenian deficit to 72-76 at 35 minutes and 43 seconds. Monamas made it 72-78 before Slovenia converted free throws at the 37th minute and tied the game 78-78 at 37 minutes and 45 seconds.
Barlos gave Greece an 78-80 lead at 38 minutes and 30 seconds and added a free throw to make it 78-81 with 15 seconds remaining. With two seconds left, Sasloglou hit free throws to seal the 78-83 victory and secure Greece's spot in the quarterfinals.
Game Statistics and Officiating
Spanos recorded nine points and 12 rebounds for Greece, while Barlos scored 13 points. Charalampidis and Christodoulou added six points each, Kapsalis scored five points with one three-pointer, Karavasilis had four points, and Adamopoulos scored two points. Diamantis and Zervas also played for Greece.
The game referees were Zaschuk from Ukraine, Antonen from Finland, and Dori from Italy. The quarter scores were 26-23, 42-44, 63-66, and 78-83.
Tournament Schedule and Results
In other Eurobasket U16 games, Poland defeated the Czech Republic 81-64, Spain beat Belgium 97-60, and Latvia eliminated Serbia 99-59.
The tournament schedule also featured Lithuania against Italy and Turkey against Romania at 18:00, along with Israel against Germany and France against Georgia at 20:30.
