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The Cyprus National Team faced a harsh reality on the EuroBasket 2025 court, suffering their third defeat in the tournament with a heavy 91-47 loss to Spain. While the players showed flashes of determination, including a strong start and spirited moments from Willis and Iliadis, the gap in quality was clear against the seasoned Spanish squad led by MVP Willy Hernangómez.
Cyprus began with promise, tying the score at 5-5 within the first two minutes, but Spain quickly pulled ahead. Despite solid defensive efforts and a memorable three-pointer by Iliadis late in the third quarter, Cyprus could not close the gap. The final score reflected the overwhelming dominance of Spain throughout the game.
Quarter scores: 19-9, 41-17, 70-29, 91-47
In stark contrast, Greece delivered a commanding performance in their third game of the group stage, beating Georgia 94-53. The “Official Favorite” showcased precision, athleticism, and teamwork, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Greece built an early lead and never looked back, extending their advantage to a maximum of 41 points by the final buzzer.
Quarter scores: 13-22, 29-46, 41-69, 53-94
The juxtaposition of the two games is striking. While Cyprus fought with heart but lacked the depth to challenge Europe's elite, Greece continues to assert its dominance, comfortably advancing toward the knockout stage. For local fans, the hope remains that the national team can learn from these experiences, building toward stronger performances in future competitions.
Cyprus (Christoforos Leivadiotis vs Spain): Loizidis, Simitzis, Pasialis, Michael, Iliadis, Christodoulou, Young, Giannaras, Koumis, Tigas, Willis, Stylianou
Greece (Vassilis Spanoulis vs Georgia): Dorsey, Lerantzakis, Toliopoulos, Sloukas, Kalaitzakis, Papanikolaou, Katsivelis, Samontourov, G. Antetokounmpo, K. Antetokounmpo, Th. Antetokounmpo, Mitoglou
With information from Cyprus Basketball Federation.
