Greece confidence keeps growing with every win, can help overcome Bourousis absence against Serbia
PATRAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Greece remain the only undefeated team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers thanks to a growing confidence. But they will be without star big man Ioannis Bourousis in their quest to finish the fifth window with a 10-0 mark.
Bourousis starred in Greece's 92-84 home victory over previously unbeaten Germany with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. But the 7ft 1in (2.15m) center will not be available for Greece’s next Group L game on Monday against Serbia in Belgrade as he will be heading back to China to play for his CBA club Zhejiang Lions.
The 35-year-old, who has averaged 16.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks in seven Qualifiers, said he himself is surprised that Greece are still undefeated. The unbeaten run includes a 70-63 win at home over Serbia in the fourth window back in September, in which he flirted with a triple-double with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal.
"To be honest, I didn't expect to have an undefeated record all the way from the beginning, and many people didn't believe in this team. But we shouldn't think about what we have been told before," Bourousis warned. "We have to stick to the results which have brought us to the World Cup. The most important thing is that these guys managed to get the ticket for the World Cup."
The veteran of two FIBA Basketball World Cups, one Olympic Basketball Tournament and seven FIBA EuroBaskets said Greek fans have reason to be thrilled.
"Greece will be in China, playing in the World Cup. European champions Slovenia will not be there. Other powerhouses in Europe are struggling. Greece is going there, with already nine wins. Can you imagine that? It's huge," Bourousis pointed out.
"TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE AN UNDEFEATED RECORD ALL THE WAY FROM THE BEGINNING, AND MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THIS TEAM. BUT WE SHOULDN'T THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BEFORE. WE HAVE TO STICK TO THE RESULTS WHICH HAVE BROUGHT US TO THE WORLD CUP. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THESE GUYS MANAGED TO GET THE TICKET TO THE WORLD CUP."
It could be a very tall order for the Greeks to go from 9-0 to 10-0 as Serbia will be desperate for a win after losing 83-74 to Israel on Friday to fall to 5-4 - just one win ahead of Israel and Georgia, who face off against each other on Sunday.
"We have a very difficult game in front of us with Serbia. They need the game very much," Greece coach Thanasis Skourtopoulos said. "But we will fight as we do in every game. They have their goals, we have ours. Anything can happen."
Greece have not been just all about Bourousis though, and their nine-game winning streak has given everyone on the team not only the experience of winning but also additional confidence.
"IT'S TRUE THAT THE PSYCHOLOGY IS DIFFERENT. WHEN YOU PLAY GOOD WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM, WHEN THE TEAM IS VICTORIOUS IN EVERY GAME, YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER. AND OF COURSE YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE GETTING MORE EXPERIENCED."
"I don't know if I feel like a better player, but for sure I feel more mature. I trust myself, I have confidence and the national team helped a lot to reach this level of confidence," Giannoulis Larentzakis said.
The 25-year-old point guard collected 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists against Germany and is averaging 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in seven games as he emerges as a new leader to rely upon for the future.
Ioannis Athinaiou added 10 points and 6 assists in the Germany game and is averaging 8.2 points, 2.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds, including a game-winner over Great Britain back in the first window. And the 30-year-old guard said the more players play the more experience they get and the better the whole Greek team becomes.
"It's true that the psychology is different. When you play good with the national team, when the team is victorious in every game, you feel much better. And of course you feel that you are getting more experienced," Athinaiou said.
The PAOK guard said the motivation for all of the Greek players is huge to be part of some special, namely qualify for the country's fourth straight FIBA World Cup appearance and eighth in the last nine editions.
"We started this journey, almost one year ago, carrying a special load of responsibility. We had to do the job under special situations and conditions. All of the guys who have been members of this team felt the responsibility," Athinaiou said. "I feel, we all feel blessed because of the fact that we were members of this team and we accomplished the goal. We are proud of that."
"I DON'T KNOW IF I FEEL LIKE A BETTER PLAYER, BUT FOR SURE I FEEL MORE MATURE. I TRUST MYSELF, I HAVE CONFIDENCE AND THE NATIONAL TEAM HELPED A LOT TO REACH THIS LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE."
But only the first goal has been met. There is still one more for Greece in the European Qualifiers - to finish the qualification campaign atop Group L.
"The more wins we collect in the Qualifiers, the more chances we have to avoid the United States in the first round of the World Cup," Larentzakis said. "I have to admit that we have this in mind, and our goal is to place ourselves in the best-possible position for the group stage of the World Cup. We want to finish this journey undefeated."
The next big test will come on Sunday in Belgrade against Serbia.
FIBA
