The representative team won 89-85 against "Hrvatska", took the first derby and now focuses on today (3/9, 22:00), against the "host" Italy, in Milan.
The small ball chosen by the federal coach, Dimitris Itoudis, in the first half, as a result of his decision to protect his "towers", Kostas Antetokounmpo and George Papagianni, combined with the rhapsody of Tyler Dorsey, ensured a safety difference in the "blue and white ”, which kept her away from reversals in the “dead” spaces she presented in the replay.
In order to avoid the upset, however, the defensive determination of Giannis Antetokounmpo was mobilized, who with two decisive blocks in the last minutes, an impressive reverse nailing, after an assist by Nick Kalathy and another "goal-foul", brought smiles to the final "blue and white".
The two protagonists of the Greek attack, Tyler Dorsey (career high with the National Team) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (11 points, 6 assists, 1 block, 3 blocks), each scored 27 points, while Dimitris Agravanis added 11. From Croatia, Jalen Demon Smith tried with 23 points, while Krunoslav Simon was the leader in the overthrow attempt with 18. NBAer Bojan Bogdanovic stopped at 19, while Mario Hezonia was limited to 10.
The quarters: 16-24, 30-46, 62-70, 85-89
Croatia surprised the National team in the first minutes of the match, "hitting" on the "Achilles heel" of the representative team, near the basket, thanks to the absence of the "towers" of the "blue and white", Giorgos Papagiannis and Costas Antetokounmpo. "Hrvatska" took the lead with... good morning (8-3), looking determined to build a safety margin. However, Thanasis Antetokounmpo "tied up" the national team's defense once again and with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyler Dorsey (3 long shots) "executing" near the basket and from the perimeter, respectively, Dimitris Itoudis' team responded with individual scores 4-17, writing in the 8th 12-20 and closing the period at +8 (16-24).
Damir Mulaomerovic's team tried to react, going down 20-26 at the 12' mark, but that's it... Dimitris Agravanis... dressed Thanasis Antetokounmpo on defense and with Tyler Dorsey staying "hot" (8 straight points with 2/2 three-pointers), the National Team secured a safety margin of 19 points (21-40) in the 15th minute. With the former Olympiakos guard reaching 20 points, the "blue and white" remained within a safe distance, while Nick Calathes scored 30-46 of the half, against a Croatia that made its way to the locker room having fallen into 12 errors, consequence of the Greek defense.
Croatia's zone defense in the first minutes of the third period limited the offensive game of the National Team, but its duration was temporary... With Kostas Papanikolaou "breaking" it from 6.75 and Nick Kalathis hitting a layup, the difference remained irreversible (36-53 at 23'). With Giannis Antetokounmpo feeding in the "heart" of the opposing defense, the "blue and white" scored 43-59 in the 24th minute, while with Dimitris Agravanis also connecting from 6.75, it was 45-62. However, an "empty space" of the national team in defense and attack, helped Croatia to return to a threatening position. With Simon excelling in execution and creation, "Croatia" responded with a 15-0 run, cutting it to 60-62. At that point, however, Agravanis and Dorsey cut the pace of the Croats from 6.75 (62-68), while Giannis Antetokounmpo unexpectedly made it 62-70 at the end of the third period.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyler Dorsey on the bench for breathers, the National Team had no problem restoring order, securing a double-digit difference (65-75) in the 33rd minute. In the next phase, the "blue and white" did not take advantage of the technical penalty that Moulaomerovic received for protesting, after a foul on Dimitris Agravanis, while with Simon connecting again from 6.75, Croatia returned (73-77 at 35'). . However, with Dorsey providing solutions and the National Team taking advantage of the surprises, the representative group escaped with 73-81. However, the persistence of Simon and Smith again put Croatia in a position to overturn (82-84), 1:27 before the end of the game. That's where the defensive awakening of Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke, who with a key block on Zubats at 58'' for the end and a reverse nail at 46'', after an assist from Kalathis, opened the way to victory (82-86). It was followed by a valuable rebound by Kostas Papanikolaou, with Giannis Antetokounmpo saying another "no" to Smith, in his attempt from 6.75 and then "sealing" the victory with a "goal-foul" at 4'' (82- 89)...
REFEREES: Rosso, Castillo, Horozov
The compositions:
CROATIA (Damir Mulaomerovic): Bogdanovic 19 (1), Hezonia 10 (2), Matkovic 2, Mavra 2, Ramliak, Saric, Simon 18 (2), Smith 23 (5), Zubac 11.
GREECE (Dimitris Itoudis): Agravanis 11 (2), Giannis Antetokounmpo 27, Thanasis Antetokounmpo 5 (1), Kalathis 4, Dorsey 27 (5), Larentzakis, Lountzis, Papanikolaou 6 (2), Papapetrou 3, Sloukas 6.
