GRE/ARG - Physical Greece overpowers the Pumas

AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Extremely physical defence has proven the difference in the first quarter final of the FIBA U19 World Championship, with Greece prevailing emphatically over Argentina, 86-60.

Both teams came ready to play in a spirited affair, but while the Greek defence forced Argentina into tough shots, the South Americans efforts had little impact on the composed Greece team.

But the biggest difference was Greece’s tough interior. Amazingly, Argentine coach Enrique Tolcachier played equal leading scorer Matias Nocedal just 16 minutes, and creative playmaker Juan Fernandez less than 13. This left the Americas champions with a post orientated offence, which was no match for the strong Greeks.

Greece extended their 25-17 quarter time lead to 41-32 at half time behind a Kostas Sloukas three pointer with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

They continued to suffocate the Argentine offence in the third, and when Epameinondas Papantoniou nailed a three pointer with 1:30 remaining to three quarter time, and Nikos Pappas hit a buzzer beater to finish the period, the score was 59-42 and the contest effectively over.

Greece continued to fire in the last quarter, outscoring the Pumas 27-18, much to the delight of their small contingent of fans.

Leonidas Kaselakis was outstanding for Greece with 20 points on 8/13 shooting and 8 rebounds, and was well supported by Kostas Papanikolaou (17 points) and Georgios Georgakis (11 points, 6 rebounds).

For Argentina, only Fabián Ramírez Barrios (10 points) reached double figures, as his team coughed up 21 turnovers and shot just 32% from the field.

Greece will now play the winner of Australia and France in the semi finals, while Argentina will play the loser of that game in the classification playoffs for positions 5-8.

FIBA