GRE - Bramos turns attention to NT

GRAN CANARIA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Time has flown by for Michael Bramos.

This time last year, he was wrapping up his season with Gran Canaria in Spain's Liga Endesa and preparing to take up an invitation to try out for the Greece national team that was to play at the EuroBasket.

After helping the new-look Greeks clinch a sixth-place finish in Lithuania to book a spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), Bramos returned to the Canary Islands to resume his career.

Now that his domestic season is over, Bramos is looking forward to being reunited with the Greek players and coach Ilias Zouros as they prepare for the OQT in Caracas, Venezuela.

"Yes, I hope so," he said to FIBA.com.

"We start training camp in a while and I'll get a little rest after the season, as much as I can.

"I'm excited to get back to the Greece national team and help them qualify."

The Greeks hosted the Athens Games and played there, and also made it through the OQT in 2008 when staging that event in their capital city.

They are among the favorites to make it to London, too, although difficult games in Group A against Jordan and Puerto Rico await them.

They face a potential Quarter-Final against Lithuania, Nigeria or Venezuela and if they were to survive and reach the Semi-Finals, one more victory would get them to London.

There are 12 teams at the OQT and only three teams will progress.

"Obviously, our goal is to qualify for the Olympics," Bramos said.

"That is our first goal - practice well, get to Venezuela and get to the top three."

Bramos, who is from America but has roots in Greece, says the experience of putting on the national team shirt has been something that he will always treasure.

"It's important," he said.

"It's the top level competition in the world. It's important, I do have family roots. It's an honor."

Bramos' spot in the team is not secure, especially with shooting guard Vassilis Spanoulis returning from injury.

Greece need to be a full strength, though, if they are to reach London.

"Hopefully everyone is healthy," he said.

"That's the main thing.

"We had a few guys injured last year.

"Hopefully everyone is healthy and we work hard in training camp."

Bramos' career would get a further boost if he is involved with the national team again.

He doesn't know where he will be playing next season.

"I don't know too much right now," he said.

"Obviously, my contract is finishing here.

"I'm just going to turn my attention to the national team and let my managers handle it and see what happens."


FIBA