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Greece is generally regarded as one of the best forces in international basketball and the national team is regarded as one of the best in the world, having won twice the European Championships , Youth World Championship in 1995 and many other medals such in Mediterranean and Balkan Games. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The team participated in Basketball World Championship in four occasions, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. They gained the 10th position in 1986 and 6th in 1990. However in 1994 and 1998 Greece gained their best position they had ever in the competition by winning the 4th position. In 1994 the team was beaten in the Third place final and by Croatia 78-60, folowing an elimination by USA and in 1998 as hosts they were very close to qualify to the final. They were just beaten in the semi finals by Yugoslavia in the extra time , after a tie in the regular time. The disappointment for loosing the chance to pass to the finals, made the Greeks to be beaten by USA in the Third place final by 84-61, remaining for another World Championship with the 4th place without medal. The fail in Eurobasket 2001, was a reason for Greece to not play in the 2002 World Championship but they qualified as European Champions in 2005 for the World Championship In 2006 . Besides, the 1987 European Championship, which was hosted by Greece, it was only the first in a series of several major meetings and international finals hosted by Greece, the most important being the 1998 Men’s Basketball World Championships, held in Athens . OLYMPIC GAMES The "mother of the Olympic Games " made its first participation in 1952 Summer Olympics and after that had another two participations; in 1996 and 2004 . In 1952 Games , Greece remained just in 17th position. However it was not until 1996, where Greece participated for second time and gained the 5th position. The Greek team was partly the old guard from the glorious national team of 1987 (Giannakis, Christodoulou, Fassoulas, Patavoukas) and partly new young stars (such as Sigalas, Oikonomou, and Rentzias ). It was an Olympic success, taking fifth place. Greece qualified to the 1996 Olympic Games as 4th position team in Eurobasket (the first four teams had the right to participate) and qualified until the quarter finals, where they were eliminated. The third participation of the team was at the 2004 Olympics , as host, since the Games were contested in Athens . Despite the dreams of the Greeks for a medal, the team remained again in 5th position, like in 1996. At the first round, Greece took the advantaged second position with three victories and two losses, staying behind the first position team Lithuania . The second position gave them the ticket to qualify to the quarter finals, where they were defeated 64-69 by Argentina . Then Greece had to play just for 5th position, since the medal had become a dream. They beat the Puerto Rico 85-75 and gained the 5th position. EUROBASKET At the European Basketball Championships , Greece were gold medalists (European Champions) twice, in 1987 and 2005 , they were once silver medalists in 1989 and captured the bronze medal in 1949 . Greece’s victory in the 1987 European championships was a defining moment for the sport in the country. The national team’s two points victory (103-101) over the Soviet Union in the final – with Nikos Galis , Panagiotis Giannakis , Fanis Christodoulou, Panagiotis Fasoulas and the rest of the team at their best - made Basketball the national team game. In the next few years, and in the mid-1990s, there was a series of victories in international sport meetings, both for the national team and at club level. However, Greece best place in those years was the 4th, remaining just close to medal and since 1999, Greece could not pass after quarter finals. Greece had to wait until Eurobasket 2005 , when they became again on the top of Europe, one year after the Football National Team became on the top of Europe as well. Greece passed the Group phase as second, with two victories and one defeat, and had to pass through elimination games to the quarter finals. After beating Israel 67-61. Then they faced Russia by beating them with 66-61. In the semifinals, Greece beat France 67-66 in a dramatic fashion. France led 51-58 with 2 minutes to go, but Greece managed to come back and win the game with a three-pointer by Diamantidis from the top of the key after an incredible comeback. Papaloukas scored twice in the final minute and Papadopoulos dunked it for a 60-62 Greek deficit. Parker made free throws, Papaloukas answered with a layup and Rigaudeau made 1 of 2 for a 62-65 lead with 14 seconds to go. Papaloukas scored 2 free throws, then Rigaudeau made 1 of 2, giving Greece the last possession of the game. Zisis drove to the basket and fed Diamantidis for the game-winning three after a dramatic comeback! In the Final, Greece beat easily Germany with 78-62, and became European Champions for second time. Eurobasket 1949 Greece's debut in the European championships came at Eurobasket 1949 in Cairo , Egypt . The Greeks were quite successful in their first appearance, taking the Bronze Medal after finish 4-2 in the seven-team round robin tournament. Their losses came against Egypt and France , each of which had previously earned a bronze medal in European tournament play. Eurobasket 1951 The Greeks appeared again at Eurobasket 1951 in Paris . They split their preliminary round games and gathered a second win from Romania's forfeit to place second in their preliminary group with a 2-1 record and advance to the semifinal round. There, they faced powerhouses Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia as well as a strong Italy , losing all three contests. Further losses to Turkey and Belgium in classification matches put Greece in 8th place out of the 18-team field. ACHIEVEMENTS IN FIBA EUROPE COMPETITIONS Men competitions EuroBasket (2005) - 1st place European Championship for Men (2003) - 5th place European Championship for Men (1997) - 4th place European Championship for Men (1995) - 4th place European Championship for Men (1993) - 4th place European Championship for Men (1991) - 5th place European Championship for Men (1989) - 2nd place European Championship for Men (1987) - 1st place European Championship for Men (1949) - 3rd place European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1988) - 5th place European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1984) - 5th place Youth competitions European Championship for Cadets (1999) - 2nd place European Championship for Cadets (1997) - 5th place European Championship for Cadets (1995) - 3rd place European Championship for Cadets (1993) - 1st place European Championship for Cadets (1991) - 2nd place European Championship for Cadets (1989) - 1st place European Championship for Cadets (1983) - 4th place European Championship for Cadets (1975) - 2nd place European Championship for Cadets (1973) - 5th place European Championship for Cadets (1971) - 5th place European Championship for Cadettes (1991) - 5th place European Championship for Junior Men (2002) - 3rd place European Championship for Junior Men (2000) - 3rd place European Championship for Junior Men (1998) - 3rd place European Championship for Junior Men (1992) - 4th place European Championship for Junior Men (1988) - 4th place European Championship for Junior Men (1970) - 2nd place European Championship for Junior Women (1996) - 5th place European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1994) - 4th place European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1992) - 2nd place European Championship for Men U16 (2004) - 5th place European Championship for Men U20 (2004) - 4th place European Championship for Young Men (2002) - 1st place U20 European Championship Men (2005) - 5th place U20 European Championship Women (2005) - 4th place Participations in FIBA Europe competitions Men competitions EuroBasket (2005) - Final Round European Championship for Men (2003) - Final Round European Championship for Men (2001) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1999) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1997) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1995) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1993) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1991) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1989) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1987) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1983) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1981) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1979) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1975) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1973) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1969) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1967) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1965) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1961) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1951) - Final Round European Championship for Men (1949) - Final Round European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1992) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1988) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1984) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1980) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1972) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1968) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men (1964) - European Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men Women competitions EuroBasket Women (2005) - Final Round European Championship for Women (2003) - Final Round European Championship for Women (2001) - Final Round European Championship for Women (1999) - Challenge Round European Championship for Women (1997) - Qualifying Round European Championship for Women (1995) - Challenge Round Youth competitions European Championship for Women U20 (2004) - Qualifying Round European Championship for Cadets (2001) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1999) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1997) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1995) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1993) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1991) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1989) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1987) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1983) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1981) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1979) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1977) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1975) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1973) - Final Round European Championship for Cadets (1971) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (2003) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (2001) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (1999) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (1997) - Challenge Round European Championship for Cadettes (1995) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (1993) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (1991) - Final Round European Championship for Cadettes (1989) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (2002) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (2000) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1998) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1996) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1994) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1992) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1990) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1988) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1986) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1984) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1978) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1976) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1974) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1972) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1970) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Men (1968) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (2002) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (2000) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (1998) - Challenge Round European Championship for Junior Women (1996) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (1994) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (1992) - Final Round European Championship for Junior Women (1990) - Final Round European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1998) - Final Round European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1996) - Final Round European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1994) - Final Round European Championship for Men '22 and Under' (1992) - Final Round European Championship for Men U16 (2004) European Championship for Men U20 (2004) European Championship for Women U18 (2004) - Qualifying Round European Championship for Young Men (2002) - Final Round European Championship for Young Men (2000) - Final Round European Championship for Young Women (2002) - Final Round European Championship for Young Women (2000) - Qualifying Round U16 European Championship Men (2005) - DIVISION A U16 European Championship Women (2005) - DIVISION A U18 European Championship Men (2005) - DIVISION A U18 European Championship Women (2005) - DIVISION A U20 European Championship Men (2005) - DIVISION A U20 European Championship Women (2005) - DIVISION A ''taken from'' ''http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_OZlo,WoXI7EB6o4ZSH6lt3.nfID_291.html'' |
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