By Nikos Varlas / varlas@eurohoops.net
Yiannis Bourousis was extraordinary against Belgium, being the best player of the Greek national team.
The experienced center said after the qualification to the quarter-finals: “It was our duty, when we started the preparation, to be as close as we can to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. It was a tough game, in a tough time, and after a trip. We didn’t have the time to train the way we wanted to, but we had energy, we won and advanced to the next round,” he said firstly and added: “We want it very much. We feel sad and in pain for the national team. You come here with all your heart to play and strengthen the team. In the past years, we failed and we lacked concentration. We have a tough game in front of us and we will face it as the final.”
The 31-year-old center was asked to comment on the small ball (where the team played with three guards) that Greece’s head coach used, but also on the following games: “The coach knows what plan he has to use and what to do in every game. Each and every one of us wants to do his best for the team. It’s too early to talk about a medal yet, because if we lose the next match, everything will be over. Our supplies in the next game will be to work and to have energy. There is no preference regarding the opponent,” said the former Real Madrid player.
At the end, he showed he has a good memory and remembered the match against Spain in 2007: “In 2007, they stole the victory from us against Spain with everything they did. This match is very painful for me. It will make me more stubborn . We will have extra energy. We are a team. Now, we are where we wanted to be, in a crucial game. If we surpass this as well, we will be less nervous.”