Greece secured a crucial 108-106 overtime victory against Spain at the T-Center, maintaining their qualifying bid for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. In a high-tempo matchup characterized by constant lead changes, Vassilis Spanoulis’s squad managed to withstand a late Spanish comeback to claim the win.
The hosts made a strong start, taking an early 13-4 lead before Spain responded with a run to close the first quarter ahead at 20-19. Greece regained momentum in the second period behind Dinos Mitoglou, who scored 19 first-half points on 5-for-5 shooting from three-point range, sending Greece into halftime with a 43-42 edge.
Greece extended its control during the third quarter, capitalizing on Nick Calathes’s playmaking and Tyler Dorsey’s scoring to build a 67-58 advantage. Although the hosts pushed the lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter, Spain mounted a steady comeback. Juancho Hernangomez hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the game at 86-86 and force overtime.
Both teams traded baskets in the extra period, with Mitoglou and Dorsey leading the way for Greece to finish with 29 points apiece. Late free throws gave the home side a narrow buffer, and Darío Brizuela missed a potential game-winning shot on Spain’s final possession, sealing the victory for Greece.