The nationwide basketball crew’s three Olympic appearances ended with accidents and no miracles
The final picture of the nationwide basketball crew from the Olympics, the final scorching feeling of the “official favourite”, was a stain that doesn’t simply fade. The well-known two missed photographs Manu Ginobili ten seconds earlier than the ultimate of the quarter-final, with the rating at 80-78, they set a super scene for a Greek to climb the hero’s podium. The aura of Belgrade was nonetheless alive, however in 2008 in Beijing the wind was blowing towards it.
THE Vasilis Spanoulis he obtained the ball in a storm of dribbles, dribbled to the three-point line, launched the ball together with a thousand prayers, however discovered an iron. Just a few centimeters of the meter ostracized our nationwide crew from the semi-finals of the Olympic match, the place the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. The victorious Argentinians took the bronze medal and the defeated Greeks returned to Athens upset.
Again with a brand new position
Your correspondent within the highlands of Wukesong Area sipped a beer in a single piece as a comforting gesture from an English colleague and questioned when the blue and white would fly once more in an Olympic basketball match. Sixteen years and 4 pre-Olympic tournaments later, three of accidents and one among miracles, the Greek nationwide crew returns, with Spanoulis within the position of coach. The sweaty flannel hung within the closet and gave option to an unwrinkled swimsuit.
In 2008 in distant China they wore blue, below his directions Panagiotis Giannakisand the Papaloukas, Diamantidis, Life, Pelican, Vassilopoulos, Fotsis, Printezis, Chartsaris, Bourousis, Schorcianite, Glyniadakis. Defeated by the Individuals, the Spanish and eventually the Argentines, the nationwide crew received three of its six video games (Germany, China, Angola).
Fifth place in Beijing was successfully the swan tune of that troubled era, because the following summer season’s European medal in Katowice was received with out Papaloukas and Diamantidis. And coached not by the “dragon”, who within the meantime placed on a purple uniform and was pushed out the entrance door by the federation, however by Jonas Kazlauskas.
Beijing was the second consecutive Olympic participation of the nationwide basketball crew and the second straight kazoo by the hands of the Argentines. In Athens in 2004, our crew was extra immature, nevertheless it had the driving pressure of the flame ignited in OAKA by 20,000 followers. The Olympic area in Maroussi was buzzing with anticipation and crowding, whereas chants of “Kederis, Kederis” from the adjoining stadium pierced the partitions.
Our nationwide crew led 35-27 at the start of the second half, in a sport the place the factors have been scored with sweat and blood. Viewers have been delirious, however the previous sequence advisable composure because the ghosts of previous failures danced of their minds. The primary mistake introduced the third. The second missed three-pointer introduced the fourth. A false whistle, a technical penalty, two misplaced factors, bleeding on the dropper. The platform was enjoying methods, however Latin Individuals are born inside volcanoes and so they do not gloat.
With the blood frozen
Ginobili went out to catch his breath, however in his place got here a younger man who 13 months earlier had misplaced his mom, fiancee, sister and two shut associates in a horrible automotive accident. As if this overwhelming stroke of kismet wasn’t sufficient, o Walter Herman he additionally misplaced his grieving father, who died of grief on the day of the anniversary of the tragedy: July 18, 2004. The son, who was then getting ready for the journey to Athens, inherited the chilly blood of the German father. We naively anticipated him to die…
Herman made two three-pointers and a two-pointer whereas throughout him the irons have been melting. Nicely performed and a thousand thumbs as much as the dude. Who can arise after such calamity, and what precisely is operating by their veins? Argentina tied the sport at 53-53, and the blonde robotic with the tattered socks returned to the bench with a glassy gaze. His hair was golden, matching the medal that awaited him 4 days later.
THE Luis Scola he composed us with two well-aimed photographs, since o Francis Albertis missed the shot that almost tied it at 64-67. The nationwide crew completed in fifth place with a 4-3 report (wins over Australia, Angola and Puerto Rico twice, losses towards USA, Lithuania, Argentina), however laid the groundwork for the Belgrade and Saitama epics.
Within the 2004 Video games, Faliro and OAKA, Papaloukas, Diamantidis, Zisis, Spanoulis, Hatzivrettas, Kakiuzis, D. PapanikolaouFotsis, DikoudisTsartsaris, Papadopoulos: primarily the identical crew that was to be topped European champions a 12 months later. Already coached by Giannakis, at the start of his second time period on the bench of the crew he beloved and revered a lot.
The primary journey
The 5 circles have been first seen by their “official favourite” in 1996 in Atlanta, on the Video games that might have been hosted in Athens if we had submitted to the IOC a file of know-how and never an anachronistic historic immortal spirit. “Atlantaze” wrote the newspapers in Athens the day we have been ready for “Athinaze”.
Olympic qualification was achieved by Eurobasket in Athens with one among his baskets Panagiotis Fasoula within the quarter-final last towards the Spaniards. In Atlanta, Giannakis wore the captain’s armband, whereas Fanis Christodoulou accomplished the trio of bodyguards.
The nationwide crew misplaced by a degree to the mighty Yugoslavs within the premiere, defeated the opposite democratic powers (Brazil, P. Rico, S. Korea), however when the time got here to decide on an opponent for the eight, it noticed the sky as a set off, each in its match ” choice” (62-103 by Australia) in addition to within the quarter-final itself (66-99 by Lithuania Soaps).
The ultimate rating match, Greece – Brazil 91-72 with 35 factors of Giorgos Sigalaswas a farewell each for Panagiotis Giannakis and for Oscar Smith. The tears of emotion within the locker room of the sprawling Georgia Dome took years to dry. In Atlanta in addition they performed Kakiousis, Patavukas, BakatsiasD. Papanikolaou, Albertis, Housekeeper, Renzias, Angelidis.
The counter reads 21 video games in three Olympiads, with a complete of twelve wins, 9 losses and 0 derbies received. Sure, you learn the outcomes appropriately. In Atlanta in 1996, the nationwide crew reached the quarter-finals with victories over Brazil, Puerto Rico and South Korea. In Athens in 2004 he defeated solely the Australians, the Angolans and the Puerto Ricans. In Beijing in 2008 its solely victims have been Germany, Angola and China. Zero acids, zero fat.
The comparisons with 2024, when the Greek crew is known as upon to remove one or possibly two of Canada, Spain, Australia are catalytic. In Lille, the place the Olympic match will start on Saturday 27 July 2024, three teams of 4 groups will begin, every of which is able to ship the highest two groups to the quarter-finals. The eight will shut with the 2 greatest third-place finishers and people who survive will transfer on to Paris Bercy from August 6.
Within the Greek group there is no such thing as a susceptible sufferer for a positive victory nor a positive defeat, because the behemoths (USA, Serbia, France but in addition Germany) discovered themselves on a distinct path. Our nationwide crew is excluded from assembly the dreaded earlier than the quarter-finals.
Nevertheless, the Canadians left Manila with a medal and discipline a world-class duo at guard: Cy Gilgeous-
Alexander, Jamal Murray. The Spaniards could also be on the brink, however they’re nonetheless European champions. The Australians have been on the rostrum three years in the past in Tokyo and have roughly the identical crew. With three consecutive fifth-place finishes in as many Olympic appearances, a 16-year absence and 0 distinctions within the final 15 years, our nationwide crew lacks the stature and weight to be thought of a critical medal contender in Paris.
John’s dream
Nevertheless, it has Giannis Antetokounmpo dwelling a loopy dream of three a long time as a flag bearer, Vassilis Spanoulis as a supporter decided to lock within the clock the deadly missed shot of Beijing and within the background a mess of skilled executives, who’ve lowered the championship to routine: You are in a basket, Okay. Papanikolaou, Walkup, Papagiannis, Mitoglou, Lorentzakis. The thirst of youthful gamers like ToliopoulosThe KalaitzakisThe Charalambopoulos and Moraitis brings an air of renewal to an organization that is aware of it should quickly say goodbye to the 35-year-old era.
If there’s a blip within the image, it’s the absence of gamers who have been both injured or knocked out (Sloukas, T. Antetokounmpopossibly additionally Okay. Antetokounmpo) or requested an exemption to relaxation their our bodies and minds (Papapetrou, Rogavopoulos). The total Greek nationwide crew of 2024 could be even stronger, maybe the perfect we now have ever had. Even when incomplete, he’ll go to France not for the enjoyment of Olympic participation however to make noise. And to march en masse on the closing ceremony on August 11 on the Stade de France.
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