Calathes to play decisive game vs Australia: “He’s a very tough kid”

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

Greece lost the first two games at the 2024 Paris Olympics to Canada and Spain and will have to defeat Australia to at least keep its chances alive.

Therefore, Vassilis Spanoulis will need all the players at his disposal, especially Nick Calathes.

The experienced point guard suffered a blow to his ribs during the loss to Spain, but the scans showed no fracture, and the new Monaco point guard is expected to play.

“Nick really wants to play. Generally, he’s a very, very tough kid. We know he’s been able to take the pain for so many years. He has played too many times injured. He’s taken an elbow to the ribs, we know it’s something that hurts, but we know it can’t get any worse, so we’re confident that tomorrow Nick will give everything he’s got to help the team,” Spanoulis said.

Greece needs to win by at least three points against the Boomers to take 3rd place and hope to pull through to the quarterfinals.

“It’s the best scenario we could have! When you’re at the Olympics and you have one game to qualify for the eight, that’s a blessing. This is why kids play basketball. That is why we are here. To play such games and win a knockout, because for us it is a knockout,” Spanoulis added.

Kostas Papanikolaou promises his side will fight until the last moment.

“It is one more game, we will fight. We have been given one more chance to challenge for qualification, and we must give everything we have to win. Of course, it won’t be easy. We are playing against an excellent team with a lot of talent and experience in big games. But here we are; we have another 40 minutes, a chance to fight for the best,” experienced Papanikolaou concluded.