CAIRO (Egypt) - Vasilis Spanoulis found himself in an odd situation at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2022 as he was present to hand out the MVP award - something he is more used to receiving.

But the recently retired star enjoyed watching the global event in Egypt and seeing how the game is moving forward - just like everything in the world.

"There had to come a time for this to happen," Spanoulis joked about his flipped role of handing out awards instead of accepting them. "I feel good to give it to Lucas Martinez because he deserved it for a very good performance."

 
Martinez took home the trophy after helping Brazilian side Flamengo to a 75-62 victory over Hereda San Pablo Burgos for the club's second Intercontinental Cup title.

Spanoulis was a welcome sight at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup as his name holds a special status having guided Olympiacos Piraeus to the trophy in 2013. The Greek legend poured in 18 points in the team's 81-70 return leg victory over the two-leg win against Pinheiros Sky of Brazil.

Thinking back to 2013, the FIBA EuroBasket 2005 champion and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 silver medallist said the game is changing.

"It's quicker. There are a lot of athletic guys, a very physical game. It's logical. The whole world is moving forward, basketball is the same," said Spanoulis, who has also won three EuroLeague crowns.

The long-time veteran of national team competitions said the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is an excellent event bringing together different approaches to the game.

"I think it's very important to develop basketball everywhere, all over the world. This is FIBA's goal, to take basketball all over the world."

"Every team has a different style of basketball - teams from Europe, Africa, Americas. It's very interesting to see different cultures playing basketball," Spanoulis said.

The 39-year-old said FIBA is doing a great job spreading and developing the game with this competition.

"I think it's very important to develop basketball everywhere, all over the world. This is FIBA's goal, to take basketball all over the world. And it's very nice for the people here to have the opportunity to watch these games," he said.

The Cairo edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup marked the first time the competition was staged in an African country and featured, in Egypt's Zamalek, a participating team from Africa.

"I can see [this competition] growing because I know the people who run it, and I am sure it will be better and better every year," Spanoulis said.

FIBA