ATHENS (Greece) - When Vassilis Spanoulis announced his retirement from international basketball after FIBA EuroBasket 2015, there was a feeling of emptiness and regret for all hoops fans.

One of the greatest players in the country's history was going out after a Quarter-Final defeat to Spain, despite being at the peak of his game.

Well, it turns out that wasn't the end of  the national team career of a player regarded as one of the most lethal shooters in the sport the past two decades.

Spanoulis, nicknamed "V-Span" and "Kill Bill", has decided to play again. He wants to help Greece at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, Canada.

"I never thought or imagined that I would be here again six years later," Spanoulis said. "I have rested and I am strong."

On numerous occasions, Spanoulis lifted his country to famous victories. In the stunning 101-95 upset of the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 in Japan, he erupted for a team-high 22 points, making three of five shots from behind the arc and a clutch seven of nine free-throws. 

Greece coach Rick Pitino, who had two stints at the helm of Panathinaikos from 2018 to 2020 and faced Spanoulis in his team's battles with Olympiacos, has enormous respect for the sharpshooter.

He spoke in an interview with FIBA.basketball last year about the national team's need to have better shooters. Spanoulis was clearly one of the players he was thinking about.

Spanoulis last played for Greece at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 in France

Pitino sent out an S.O.S. to the talisman of years gone by and got the answer he was looking for this summer.

Spanoulis likes the fact that Pitino believes in him.

"Mr. Pitino has shown he has confidence and respect for me and I thank him very much," he said. "I am ready together with the other players to help the effort of the national team and to achieve the highest honor for an athlete, which is participating in the Olympic Games."

Spanoulis, a FIBA EuroBasket 2005 champion who played at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008 in Athens and Beijing, respectively, now has the aim of reaching Tokyo.

To do that, the Greeks will have to win the OQT that tips off on June 29 and concludes on July 4. The other teams in the Victoria OQT are Czech Republic, Turkey, Canada, China and Uruguay.

No one is happier than Pitino that Spanoulis is back.

"Vassilis came in very good condition, he had a very good week showing what he can offer," he said this week. "I know very well what I can get from Vassilis." 

FIBA