LIMASSOL (Cyprus) - Six teams will gather in the Cypriot city of Limassol to start their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaigns.
The 8,000 capacity seated Spyros Kyprianou Arena will serve as the backdrop for the Group C action with 15 games being played from August 28 - September 4.
Which four teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Italy and Spain will advance and qualify for the Final Phase in Riga?
Schedule
Spain
Sergio Scariolo just kept doing his magic in 2022, taking a large group of young and inexperienced and somehow turning the Spanish national team into champions again - for the fourth time in the last 13 years. Spain have finished on the podium in the last seven EuroBaskets and the last time Espana didn't reach the Quarter-Finals was in 1977 - a streak of 21 events. This will be Scariolo's swan song and his Spanish team is even younger and less experienced than in 2022 - topped by Santi Aldama. What magic does Scariolo have up his sleeve this summer?
Greece
The Greeks were unable to beat hosts Germany in the 2022 Quarter-Finals, ending their hopes of their first EuroBasket crown since 2005. Hellas have not won a Quarter-Finals game since taking third place in 2009. This summer, Vassilis Spanoulis will be head coach at his first EuroBasket and the 2005 champion will have a major boost with the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Italy
Italy reached the Quarter-Finals in 2022 for the fourth straight EuroBasket but they haven't managed a victory at that stage, falling in overtime to France three years ago. The Italians' last podium finish dates back to 2003 and they have a strong mix of veterans and youngsters as well as newcomer Donte DiVencenzo. Italia fans have waited long enough to celebrate a continental medal.
Georgia
Georgia are making their sixth straight appearance on the continental stage, having served as co-hosts in 2022. Georgia managed just one victory in the group stage in front of their home fans. The eastern Europeans have advanced from the opening round twice - in 2011 and 2015. Georgia will rely on their star duo of Toko Shengelia and Giorgi Shermadini.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina were the only team to beat group winners Slovenia in the opening stage. But the Balkan side could not deliver the win they needed when it mattered most, losing to Lithuania in a winner-advances-to-knockout-stage contest. Dzanan Musa is clearly the leader of this team and the star wing will need a big performance if they can get past the first phase for the first time since their first appearance in 1993.
Cyprus
Cyprus will be making their EuroBasket debut as co-hosts after struggling in the qualifying in the past. They managed two wins in 12 qualifying games for FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and went 2-4 in qualifying for the 2017 edition. Cyprus, who went 1-17 in the build-up to EuroBasket 2025, do hold the record for most titles in the Games of the Small States of Europe at nine. But EuroBasket is another caliber of competition.
Star Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the face of the Greece national team as one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo has already been playing for Hellas for 11 years - debuting in the senior national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014. This will be his third EuroBasket to go with two FIBA World Cups and the 2024 Olympics. But Greece have not finished on the podium of a major competition since the 2009 EuroBasket.
Antetokounmpo has not slowed down at all from a quality standpoint - still one of the world's most dynamic and dominant players. He still struggles shooting from long range but his playmaking skills have improved more and more over the past couple of years. And he is truly a dominant all-around player at both ends of the court.
The Milwaukee Bucks star poured in 25.8 points at the 2024 Olympics while also picking up 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Greece reached the Quarter-Finals as one of the best third-placed teams before losing to Germany in the top eight stage. The Greeks lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 EuroBasket where Antetokounmpo averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Giannis will need to be at the top of his game to have success.
Poll: Who will qualify for the Final Phase?
History
COUNTRY | LAST PARTICIPATION | BEST FINISH | APPEARANCE |
2022 (18th place) | 8th place (1993) | 11th | |
None | None | 1st | |
2022 (21st place) | 11th place (2011) | 6th | |
2022 (5th place) | Champions (1987, 2005) | 29th | |
2022 (8th place) | Champions (1983, 1999) | 39th | |
2022 (1st place) | Champions (2009, 2011, 2015, 2022) | 33rd |
FIBA World Ranking for Men presented by NIKE
RANK | NATIONAL TEAM |
#5 | Spain |
#13 | Greece |
#14 | Italy |
#24 | Georgia |
#41 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
#84 | Cyprus |
Tickets
FIBA