By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Getting ready to focus on his job with the senior national team of Greece, nearing the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign at the club level with Peristeri bwin, Vassilis Spanoulis confirmed Giannis Antetokounmpo for the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus.
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“Giannis will be present with the national team in the Olympic Games Qualifiers,” noted Spanoulis during the postgame press conference following the ending of a best-of-three series versus Olympiacos on Saturday.
Antetokounmpo, 29, resurfaces for Greece. Previous international experience for the leading player of the Milwaukee Bucks ranges from debuting at the U20 level in 2013 to the senior level via the 2014 and 2019 installments of the FIBA World Cup, the 2015 and 2022 editions of EuroBasket, and the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin. The approaching challenge corresponds to the OQT to be held in Greece.
Hosting Greece takes on the Dominican Republic on July 3 and Egypt on July 4 in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, SEF. Ranking first or second in Group B of the preliminary stage would advance the team guided by Spanoulis to a single-elimination game against Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand in the Semifinals. Reaching the Final earns an opportunity to clinch one Olympic Games berth available across the six countries.
In Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League Playoffs, Peristeri and head coach Spanoulis have one more team outing remaining, a game for third place versus the loser of a best-of-three series between Panathinaikos Aktor and Aris Midea.