Greece topped its Eurobasket pool in Limassol with a hard-fought 90-86 victory over Spain, its jinx team, that saw the reigning European champion eliminated from the tournament on Thursday.

The Greeks played an impressive first quarter during which they led 30-14, and 31-20 at its end, and remained in control of the game until half-time, advancing 50-35.

However Spain regrouped in the second half, fighting for its life, and covered the distance to take the match down to the wire. It led 73-72 in the last quarter and 84-82 with barely two minutes left, but the Greeks had not said their final word. They turned things around in their favor with six unanswered points (88-84) and made the most of the missed free throws of nervous Spain to clinch victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was impressive once again, scoring 25 points in 32 minutes, but Tyler Dorsey made the difference for Greece with his 22 points.

The team of coach Vassilis Spanoulis finished first with four wins in five matches.

In the first knockout phase, the Round of 16, Greece will face Israel on Sunday in Riga and then meet the winner of the match of Lithuania with Latvia.

Source: Ekathimerini.com