GRE - Vasiliadis cannot wait to get started

ATHENS (FIBA World Championship) - Kostas Vasiliadis has waited longer than most for the 2010 FIBA World Championship to get under way.

The Bilbao Basket swingman will be making his senior international bow for Greece in Turkey.

He has a long resume of success at youth international level, but has not been seen in a Greece jersey since winning silver at the U21 World Championship in 2005.

“It’s been great to be back," Vasiliadis said.

“I feel really good. I saw my friends and everything is good. I’ve waited a long time and now I want to give my best to help the coaches and the team.

“It is something special to be in the national team." Vasiliadis is confident Greece can contend in Turkey even if they are not at full strength.

“All teams have some people absent," he said. “Greece has shown that we can make it work for us.

This team works very hard to be ready for any event and for anyone who stands in the way as an opponent. “We can do it this year.

My own feeling is that this team will be very good, although there are several good teams at the tournament. We can be the best.

"Vasiliadis will be joined by another veteran of the 2005 U21 campaign with Panagiotis Vasilopoulos also in the squad for Istanbul, and he hopes their experience of going all the way can help.

“We definitely understand it. We will try our best and want to give our best in the workouts and help the team with our presence.

“As we get more acclimated we can star for the team. We have already seen the success the youth teams have had.

Now we can show that this generation of Greek players have it too."

FIBA