GRE - Papaloukas, Greece looking for consistency

ATHENS (FIBA World Championship) - Greece’s EuroBasket 2005 gold medal in Belgrade has elevated expectations for this year’s FIBA World Championship, but star guard Theo Papaloukas is ignoring all predictions.

Papaloukas, who was the MVP of the Euroleague Final Four with CSKA Moscow, was arguably the best performer for his country in Belgrade, as well as their Olympic campaign in which they reached the quarter-finals in Athens in 2004.

He will now look to provide the same consistent level of performance in Japan.

"We don't care what people say about us being a great team and all that," he said.

"Our goal is to play well at any time. If we manage to do that, then in Japan we can reach a very high level once more. But only if we work hard and if we manage to play good basketball."

Greece coach Panagiotis Yannakis saw his side impress in the recent Acropolis Tournament - recording victories over France, Italy, and Croatia - but knows that competition will be intense once the FIBA World Championship tips off on August 19.

"The title from Belgrade puts extra pressure on us. That is true," he said. "We expect every game to be close for 37 minutes in Japan.

"In previous years we were lacking confidence. Now it's different. But we have to keep in mind that any team can lose in the knock-out games. I am happy because all my players are in good mood and ready to work hard any time.

"It is very encouraging that they want to do something more for basketball in Greece."

Center Dimosthenis Ntikoudis, who has emerged as a key man for his country in the last few seasons, has been left inspired by the crowds from the Acropolis Tournament.

"We have only positive things to say after our last six friendly games," he said.

"In the Acropolis Tournament, we were better than the other teams, but we all know we can play even better.

"It was very nice for us to play in Athens and to see all these fans.

"It was a great push for us. They gave us a good reason to fight even harder for a good finish in Japan."

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA