In spite of their struggles in the first half, the Greek national team managed to stage a comeback and defeat New Zealand 83-74, securing their qualification to the second round. In the next round, they will face Lithuania and Montenegro.
Ioannis Papapetrou emerged as one of the heroes of the game for Greece, leading his team in scoring with 27 points and 6 rebounds. He shot 8/15 from the field and 4/7 from beyond the arc. Giannoulis Larentzakis played a crucial role in the comeback with 20 points and a perfect 7/7 at the free throw line.
Shea Ili was a standout performer for the Tall Blacks, contributing 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Finn Delany recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Reuben Te Rangi, who led the famous Haka before the game, finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds.
The game was highly competitive from the start, with New Zealand taking a 20-15 lead in the first quarter. Both teams struggled with their shooting, but New Zealand managed to build a 13-point lead (33-20) in the second quarter. However, Greece fought back and made it a one-point game (51-50) in the third period. They eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter and never looked back, securing a 12-point lead (73-61) with 3:49 minutes left in the game.
With this loss, New Zealand also missed out on the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Australia will take the only Oceanian spot after advancing to the second round. The Tall Blacks will now aim to finish as high as possible in the teams ranked from 16th to 32nd position.
