GRE/CAN/SLO/SRB - Greece rout Canada in Athens

ATHENS (FIBA World Championship) - Greece handed Canada a harsh lesson in the opening game of the Acropolis Tournament in Athens as they thrashed the visiting team 123-49.

Canada's preparations for the FIBA World Championship had looked to be going well with a couple of victories over France at home last week.

But their first game in Europe this summer was a very different story as Greece stormed into a 27-6 lead and just kept building.

There was never any let up from the hosts, who scored 39 points in the final period to put an exclaimation mark on a massive win.

Sofoklis Schortsanitis led the way with 24 points but also hurt his hand in the game, while Konstantinos Vasileiadis had 14.

Canada appeared tired from their long journey, and Greece showed no mercy.

"After their two victories in Canada over France, we were ready for a difficult game," Greece coach Jonas Kazlauskas said. "But after a long journey, and adjusting to the time difference, it was difficult for our opponents to cope.

"We got off to a good start thanks to good concentration and excellent defence."

The Greece coach was particularly pleased with the way his team stayed focused even as the game turned into a blow-out.

"I am pleased with the way we played, especially on defense, as that set up easy baskets for us. We are realists and we know that you won't play like this or have a win like this every day."

Kazlauskas admitted he did not yet know the nature of Schortsanitis' injury.

"Sofoklis was hurt in Cyprus (earlier this summer) but had recovered well," he said. "He has hit the same hand, but it is too early to say yet. I cannot speak with certainty about the seriousness of the injury."

Kazlauskas also admitted that Ioannis Bouousis' continuing injury trouble is becoming a major concern.

"Ioannis is continuing to work out on his own, but I still cannot be sure he will be ready to help us in Turkey," he said.

Canada looked shellshocked by the end of the game, but coach Leo Rautins was hoping a good night's rest would fix much of what was wrong with his team.
"It was a tough game against a very strong Greece team, after a long day of travel." he said.

"We have to put this behind us and prepare for Serbia tomorrow night, keeping our focus on being ready for the World Championship."

Serbia will provide another tough challenge for Rautins' team as they continued their outstanding run of warm-up results by coming from behind to beat Slovenia 82-81.

Slovenia had raced into a big lead and the margin hit 15, 43-28, midway through the second quarter as they enjoyed some hot shooting from three-point range. Goran Dragic scored 21 points in the first-half alone.

But whatever Dusan Ivkovic said to his team at half-time seemed to work as they looked much improved after the break.

They pulled level for the first time late in the third quarter, 68-68, and the game was a battle through the final period.

Slovenia led 81-80 but Novica Velickovic went to the line with 4.7 seconds left and made both to put Serbia on top.

Serbia won the Adecco Cup in Maribor at the weekend, beating Slovenia 82-73 in Sunday's final, and Duvkovic felt his team had taken a step backwards since then.

"After having one of our better games in Maribor against Slovenia, we went into this game mentally unprepared," he said. "In the first half, we just fell away. Slovenia were better motivated and dominated the first 20 minutes, with some excellent shooting from Dragic.

"At half-time, we called on our experience and slowly cut away at their advantage. But I think Slovenia were better tonight and maybe deserved to win. However, we finished smartly and got the victory."

Dragic finished with 27 points, while Velickovic led Serbia with 21 and Nenad Krstic added 17.

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