Spanish forward Juancho Hernangomez will face Greece in Athens on August 31 as both national basketball teams seek a vital World Cup qualifying victory.
The second phase group match in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers is scheduled for 19:00 local time at the T-Center arena. Both teams enter the contest needing a win, giving the fixture the atmosphere of a knockout final.
Hernangomez is returning to the T-Center, where he regularly plays for Greek club Panathinaikos. However, he noted that stepping onto his domestic home court in the red jersey of the Spanish national team will feel unusual, as red is traditionally forbidden at the venue.
The Spanish forward said the upcoming fixture is both a special and important game for both sides. He stated that Spain is travelling to Athens with a strong hunger for victory, adding that he intends to enjoy the match and fight for the national team jersey as he always does.
Return to Athens Arena
Hernangomez joined Athens-based Panathinaikos in 2023 following a seven-year stint in the NBA. The T-Center serves as the home court for Panathinaikos, whose primary team color is green, while red is the signature color of their fierce cross-city rivals, Olympiacos.
Spain enter the match seeking to rebound from a defeat in their previous qualification fixture. Hernangomez stressed that every game in the campaign matters and emphasized that the team must analyze their earlier mistakes to improve performance.
He noted that the qualification journey remains long, praising the squad's younger players for their spirit. He said he was encouraged by how the young team members fought in their recent loss, demonstrating a clear desire to learn and remain competitive on the international stage.
Hernangomez added that young players will inevitably face further defeats as they develop, noting that every athlete experiences poor games. He stated that the key for the team is to learn from those setbacks and keep victory as their clear objective.
