ATHENS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Greece have already qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 but veteran Ioannis Bourousis will be back in action for the country's important upcoming European Qualifiers window while coach Thanasis Skourtopoulos included three debutants among his 14 players.

Bourousis, who just turned 35 on November 17, will lead the way as unbeaten Greece (8-0) face two tough tests, hosting fellow undefeated Group L co-leaders and already-qualified Germany  on November 30 in Patras, before heading to Belgrade to face Serbia (5-3) on December 3. 

Bourousis, who is playing for Zhejiang Lions in China's CBA, has featured in all four previous windows, albeit appearing in just one of the two games in November 2017 and September 2018. After averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks through his first three  games, he has seen his input drop to 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in the three most recent ones.  He did flirt with a triple-double in Greece's 70-63 win over Serbia in September with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

By booking their ticket to China 2019, Greece have extended their run of consecutive appearances at the World Cup to four. However, the job is not done and Skourtopoulos would love to grab first place in the group, which will impact the team's seeding for the draw.

Greece's final two Qualifiers will be at home against Georgia on February 21 and at Germany three days later.

In his 14-player list for this window, Skourtopoulos has included three players who have yet to play for the senior national team in Linos Chrysikopoulos of PAOK, Vasilis Mourtos from Peristeri and Michalis Tsairelis of Promitheas Patras.

Skourtopoulos named three players each from PAOK and Promitheas and two from AEK Athens - Greece's three teams in the Basketball Champions League.

FIBA