Vasilis Spanoulis had qualification at his fingertips. But the Greek full-back's shot ended a little short, and Argentina's fantastic Manu Ginobili, at the end of a memorable thriller, could advance to the next round. In the Olympic semi-final where the almost untouchable Americans awaited them.
Greece has not participated in the Olympic Games since its 5th place obtained in Beijing in 2008. That year, a certain Giannis Antetokounmpo was still just a teenager who cared more about his living conditions than about basketball. “ I didn't even play basketball back then », remembers the Greek, in an interview taken up by BasketNews.
The Bucks superstar admits that Olympic memory didn't motivate him to start practicing. But rather the performances of a player from the national team: Sofoklis Schortsanitis.
The memory of 2006
“ When I saw Sofoklis play, a young black guy from the Greek national team, it motivated me and I dreamed of being part of the team. I wasn't playing basketball in 2008. I started in 2007, then I stopped for two years to help my mother. I started playing in 2009, when I was 15 years old. I didn't watch the team much at the time », he explains.
But to have been so marked by “Baby Shaq”, Giannis Antetokounmpo must have taken a look at the 2006 World Cup. A competition where Sofoklis Schortsanitis exploded on the international scene thanks to his match against the Americans, who led to the elimination of the latter in the semi-final. In 2008, “Big Sofo” was still in the team, but had not scored a comparable coup.
Already in 2018, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke of the importance of this meeting with his compatriot. And a positive influence that went beyond basketball.
“ Sofo has done a lot of things for me. When I was 15, I trained with him. For me, it was already huge. I came from nowhere and he was already at the top. He had seen me in the street, and we found a way with my older brother to get in touch with him. He helped my family, no one knows that. He didn't know we would play in the NBA, he didn't care. He said: 'Do you want to be better? Are you hungry to become a basketball player? I will help you'. He never asked for anything in return », he delivered.
Reach the Olympics at all costs
From now on, the Greek selection rests on the broad shoulders of the “Big Freak” who wants, like his elder, to shine on the Games stage. To do this, Greece must win its ticket to Paris via its TQO in Athens (Dominican Republic and Egypt in its group; Slovenia, Croatia, New Zealand in the other), following the instructions of Vasilis Spanoulis, a former teammate of Sofoklis Schortsanitis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has put his calf injury behind him, knows that a lot of collective work awaits Greece, which has so far not developed “ no alchemy », until July 2.
“ I would really like us to qualify to represent the country in the best way possible. The only thing that motivates me is the Olympics. Whether we play Team USA or another team doesn't matter. I just want to be there and let my kids see me play there », he wishes. No doubt “Big Sofo” would also take a look…
