The Greek national basketball team will host Spain at the Telecom Center Athens on Monday for the second round of the second phase of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
Spain forward Juancho Hernangomez, who plays his club basketball for Panathinaikos at the same venue, said the game holds special significance for him as he returns to his home court.
Both teams enter the fixture needing a victory. Greece face a difficult path to qualify for the 2027 World Cup and must secure a win against the Spanish side to keep their hopes alive.
Hernangomez said the matchup would be special but important, noting that both squads require a win and that Spain are eager for the victory.
Forbidden colors
The Spanish international acknowledged the unique circumstances of playing at the Telecom Center Athens, the home of Panathinaikos. The Greek club traditionally wears green, while their fierce domestic rivals Olympiacos wear red.
Hernangomez pointed out that the situation would be slightly different for him, as he will be wearing the red jersey of Spain in an arena where the color is usually forbidden.
Despite the club loyalties, the forward affirmed his commitment to his national side, stating he would fight and do everything he could for the Spanish jersey.
Learning from mistakes
Spain are looking to recover from a recent defeat. Hernangomez said the team must improve, learn from their errors, and understand the mistakes they made in their previous outing.
He added that the qualifying campaign is a long road and emphasized the importance of every game.
Reflecting on their last match, Hernangomez praised the effort of Spain's younger players. He said their fighting spirit showed a desire to learn and compete at a high level.
The veteran forward noted that the young players would experience many defeats in the future and that everyone has bad games, but the key is to learn from those experiences and always aim for victory.
