Greece collapses from 29-point lead, loses to Spain at Eurobasket U18
Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Greece's U18 national basketball team suffered a painful loss to Spain, squandering a 29-point lead to lose 69-66.
- The Greek team dominated the first half, leading 48-26 at halftime, but collapsed in the second half.
- Spain's incredible comeback secured their semifinal spot against Slovenia in the Eurobasket U18 tournament.
The Greek U18 national basketball team experienced a devastating collapse against Spain, losing 69-66 after holding a commanding 29-point lead. The team displayed an exceptional performance in the first half, leading 48-26 at halftime with a remarkable 55% three-point shooting percentage. Player Hadzilabrou had already scored 19 points by the break.
However, the second half saw a dramatic shift as Spain mounted an unbelievable comeback. Despite Greece maintaining control through the third quarter, ending it with a 59-43 lead, the final period became a nightmare. Spain, led by Humberto Ruiz, capitalized on Greek lapses, chipping away at the deficit.
Spain's momentum surged in the fourth quarter with an impressive 23-7 run, turning a significant deficit into a 66-63 lead. The Greek players were unable to recover, and Spain held on for a crucial victory, advancing to the semifinals to face Slovenia. The loss marks a painful end to Greece's Eurobasket U18 campaign.
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.