PUR/GRE - Second Semi-Final preview

ATHENS (2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - On Saturday, Greece and Puerto Rico are vying for one of the two tickets that lead directly to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament.

The winner automatically qualifies, whereas the defeated team will have a second chance in the qualification game Sunday.

The Greek team has the home advantage, the defence armament and the recognised skills of its players, whereas Puerto Rico will be lining up the experience of its basic players and of course its own "passionate flame".

Furthermore, the hosts of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament count with four successive victories over their opponents of the day, the coach of whom - Manuel Cintrón- admits: "we love playing with our back against the wall", to go on adding: "Respect to the Greek team is a given fact, but we will do everything in our power to win."

Puerto Rico averages 81 points, their strong point being their ease in scoring 3-point shots (with percentages amounting to 50%), while Carlos Arroyo has a 55% success rate from the 3-point line (11/20).

Three-pointers constitute the main way Puerto Rico attacks, since Arroyo is followed by Lary Ayuso (16,4 points) and Ricky Sanchez (10 points, 5 rebounds), being an extremely fast forward given his height (2.12 m). It is worth noting that in the game versus Slovenia, giants Ramos (2.21 m) and Santiago (2.16 m) undertook some efforts; in the first two games these two players had gone almost unnoticed.

What does Greece have to juxtapose to the sporting virtues and traditional toughness Puerto Rico has to show? Defence from one side of the court to the next, while the question remains whether NBAers Barrea (Dallas Mavericks) and Arroyo (Orlando Magic) will fall right into the trap.

It is also a foregone conclusion that the Greek team will try to play fast; besides, it usually plays with shorter configurations.

If Sophocles Schortsianitis (age 24, 2.05 m) is not ready, then Andreas Glyniadakis (age 27, 2.15 m) will get more participation time than in any other game.

Dimitris Diamantidis (age 28, 1.98 m) is called to prove in the head-to-head with Arroyo why he has been nicknamed 3D, while Antonis Fotsis and Vassilis Spanoulis will spearhead the offence.

Previous history:
So far, the two teams have gone up against one another five times in official FIBA competitions, with Greece leading by 4-1 victories.

Year Competition (Puerto Rico - Greece)

1994 FIBA World Championship 72-64
1996 Olympic Games 69 - 80
1998 FIBA World Championship 64 - 71
2004 Olympic Games 58 - 78
2004 Olympic Games 75 - 85

LOC Press Office