By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The sold-out crowd expected to enjoy Giannis Antetokounmpo but eventually settled for Greece topping Turkey, 89-80, to win the 31st International Tournament Acropolis Aegean Friday.
Antetokounmpo, 27, was a last-minute scratch with back issues. Attempting to cover for his brother, Kostas Antetokounmpo posted a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double. Tyler Dorsey of the Dallas Mavericks went for 16 points, four assists, three rebounds, and one steal, while Milwaukee Bucks’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo contributed eight points.
Greece survived the back-and-forth prep game overcoming a stellar performance of Furkan Korkmaz. The Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter put up a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Amazing four-point play by @FurkanKorkmaz pic.twitter.com/3kwPOxwpaN
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 19, 2022
Additional NBA production from Cedi Osman of the Cleveland Cavaliers ending up with 17 points to his name and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets logging ten points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Also, Frutti Extra Bursaspor’s Yigitcan Saybir picked up an injury.
An interesting twist occurred in the third quarter as Ergin Ataman was ejected with 4:13 left in the period. He actually refused to leave the court and instead sat in the courtside seats to watch the remainder of the friendly contest in Athens. His side finished 3-3 in August friendly action.
Coach Itoudis saving the daypic.twitter.com/coxANvJZkU
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 19, 2022
Hoping to finally bring in injured Giorgos Papagiannis plus the Greek Freak and Ioannis Papapetrou returning to action, Greece will visit Serbia and welcome Belgium next week at the top of the 2023 World Cup European Qualifiers Group I. Shifting to the 2022 EuroBasket Group C, it will face Croatia, Italy, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Estonia in early September.
On the other end, another national team entering Group I of the World Cup European Qualifiers, Turkey will be on the road versus Latvia and host Serbia. The preliminary round of EuroBasket features Montenegro, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium, and Spain in Tbilisi’s Group A.