Greece suffered an 82-76 defeat against Ukraine in Riga, with head coach Vassilis Spanoulis pointing to third-quarter mistakes for the loss.
Speaking to Greek public broadcaster ERT after the game, Spanoulis insisted he was not calculating qualification permutations and was looking only to Greece's next match against Spain on Monday, August 31, at 19:00.
Spanoulis noted that Ukraine had played with greater physicality and were a gear faster than Greece throughout the contest. He said his players tried hard and gave everything they could, but highlighted a crucial turning point in the third quarter when the score was tied at 48-48.
The Greek head coach explained that poor decision making at that juncture allowed Ukraine to strike with two key three-pointers, shifting the momentum of the game. He added that his team could have executed better on several tactical points discussed prior to the match.
Physicality and Offensive Choices
Addressing the team's performance, Spanoulis called for higher energy levels and increased physical intensity. He observed that his players grew very tired as the match progressed, leading to instances of over-dribbling rather than sharing the ball effectively to create quality scoring opportunities.
Spanoulis praised point guard Nick Calathes, stating that he played very well during the game. However, the coach expressed disappointment that Greece failed to exploit defensive switches or target Ukraine's center, Skapintsev, whom he described as heavy and slow, missing chances to find open shots.
Qualification Scenarios and Next Fixture
Regarding potential tie-breakers and the outcome of the match between Georgia and Montenegro, Spanoulis stated that he did not care what other teams did. He acknowledged that such combinations might matter later, but insisted his sole focus was on playing to their capabilities, improving on defense and offense, and maintaining energy throughout the entire game.
With the threat of elimination hanging over the group, Spanoulis stressed that anything could happen. He urged his players to respond strongly and deliver an improved performance in front of their supporters when they face Spain.
Spanoulis, a former EuroLeague star who took charge of the Greek national team, is guiding his country through international fixture play in Riga, the capital of Latvia. ERT is Greece's national public television network, which conducted the post-match interview.
