A huge opportunity to qualify for the final Eurobasket U16 for the sixth time in its history and first after 1999lost Friday night (16/08) h Our National Children’s Team!
Despite the fact that the representative group of our country presented an excellent face during the longest period of the match, keeping the victory and qualification in its hands until the 35th minute, when it led with +11 (56-67), however, the whole Yannis Kalambokis suffered one incredible blackout for the next four minutes, during which time received a 20-0 run by the Spanish (!), thus fatally knowing defeat with the final 77-71.
Too bad, because the children of the “blue and white” they fought with passion and soul throughout the match as, not only did they look Spain in the… eyes, but they had managed to impose their own style of play with excellent defense and suffocating pressure.
The match:
The beginning of the match was fairly balanced, with both teams going point-to-point in the first four minutes of the match for 7-6 in favor of Spain. With her defense Greece is beginning to bear fruit, the representative group of our country has sharply raised its performance in the front part of the parquet as well. With thoughtful and targeted attacks, moving the ball correctly and quickly until finding the right conditions for a shot, our national team managed to overtake in the score for 16-12 at 7′thanks mainly to the baskets of Silver and Hatjilambro. In fact, a little later, with two consecutive three-pointers by Asimeniou and Chartonas, the difference increased at +8 (14-22), before Chaidemenos and Barbagiannis from the line of the shots set up 25-15 in the first period.
Gets it to go at the buzzer! ??#U16EuroBasket x @HellenicBF ???? pic.twitter.com/IS9qCDUDzx
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) August 16, 2024
The second quarter it started with a great three-pointer by Barbaiannis, with which our National team increased the difference at +13 (15-28)before the Spaniards “gnawed” the difference with Diallo for 28-20 at 12′. Despite the drives of Chaidemenou and Asimeniou, the Iberians continued to collect the difference, showing that they have taken it for good the momentum of the match. With him Markos Zurita to perform an amazing quarter with 15 points, “roha”, not only reduced the gap, but also went ahead with 35-34 at 17′. The entrance of Tsonis on the floor helped the team of Yiannis Kalambokis to regain their toughness and combativeness, which resulted in closing the half in absolute balance (40-40)with our National team finding three points in the last 20” (one dunk, 1/2 shots) after two steals!
That’s TOUGH! ??
Marcos Zurita with 15 PTS in the 1st half for ????.#U16EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/xuik3ayhSq
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) August 16, 2024
The ???? youngins gets the crowd on their feet in Heraklion! ??#U16EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/JReP5FvEPZ
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) August 16, 2024
The brief half-time break seemed to clear the minds of our internationals, who came in superbly at both ends of the floor in third period. With him Caressed to achieve four points and the Hatjilambro 5, but also our defense to steal the ball three times in the first three minutes, our National Team ran a quick 9-2 run, for 49-42 at 23′! Continuing to play more than the “painting”, h Spain might have struggled to find a score, however, even so, reduced to 52-48 at 26′. Nevertheless, the defense of our National team was for… seminar, leading the Spaniards in a total of 9 mistakes (!), keeping them even at just 11 points. Somehow, the defense defeated the top attack of the tournament in the third quarter as well (91.2 points in the tournament for Spain), with Greece closing the period at +5 for 56-51.
A quick dance lesson, for free ??????#U16EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/CAuOm1x2gv
— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) August 16, 2024
With two great shots by Ilias Chaidemenos and one by Vassilis Chartonas, our national team entered the fourth and final period determined to clear the case of qualifying for the grand final, making +12 and 63-51 at 32′!
More in a moment…
The quarters: 15-25, 40-40, 51-56, 77-71.
See here the statistics of the match.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
