Kalambokis: “We expected that Finland would change the way they play”

Yiannis Kalambokis congratulated the players of the National Children’s Basketball team for qualifying against Finland in the quarter-finals of the European Championship of North Macedonia, he believes that they had to face big bodies and that the three-pointers are not in the aggressive style of the representative group, while he expressed respect of for France.

Analytically: “The first thing we have to say is congratulations to the children. It was a game of such importance, against a team that came from a particularly strong group, and therefore fourth place does not mean that they are a weak or bad team. We were up against tall and strong bodies and we expected them to try to change the way we play and give us a lot of three-pointers. We expected them to close their racket and try to create problems for our ball movement and attacking partnerships.

Despite the fact that our game is not three-pointers, we are a team that expresses itself differently, the match dictated this way of playing. It was also difficult to find phases close to the basket due to their size and it is important to be able to win matches with special importance, stress and pressure, having enough solutions and plan B in the way we play.

Congratulations to the children, once again, for the way they fought, the self-sacrifice they show. They have earned the respect of all of us and I believe of all the Greeks who watch the matches”.

The continuation says France, a team that, even in this age category, is particularly strong: “We have a match tomorrow against an opponent that we respect a lot and who seems… endless on the pitch because of his size. But we are true to what we do, we know what our weaknesses are and we know what our virtues and potential are and I’m sure the guys know what they have to do to play and claim victory against a great opponent”.