By Mirto Tsitsiou/ info@eurohoops.net
In the first prep game for both Greece and Spain, Giannis set the tone with 31 points on 11/13 FG including 2/3 threes, 10 rebounds, and three assists in 20 minutes of action. And of course, the Greek national team in front of 15.000 fans got an easy 86-70 win.
Tyler Dorsey added 11 points for the hosts and Dimitris Agravanis had nine, while potential starters Kostas Sloukas and George Papagiannis missed the game. Willy Hernangomez scored 15 points for Spain, which was also missing Sergio Llull.
However, it was all about the Greek Freak who registered a career-high with the Greek NT. With him taking control of the game from the first moment, Greece started the contest with a 31-13 first quarter, led by 20 (46-26) and by 15 at halftime (50-35).
Thanks to Giannis who got his first 20 points in 15 minutes of action, Greece got things under control again, jumping to a 19-point advantage (59-40) at the start of the second half.
The Spanish team reacted and trimmed the lead the six (63-57) at the end of the third, taking advantage of the second unit’s presence of the Greeks and running a 17-4 partial score, while Dario Brizuela made key shots.
Giannis returned and answered with six straight points – including a three – for a 69-59 lead.
K-PAP TO GIANNIS 🔨🔨pic.twitter.com/MTBuhHfXDR
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 9, 2022
Add a trademark Giannis dunk in transition after a steal and an assist by Kostas Papanikolaou, plus a three by Dorsey and one more by Giannis (78-61), and the game was over.
The two teams will meet again in two days, this time in Madrid, Spain.