Santi Aldama had another impressive outing for Spain which turned to a win this time at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo saw another stellar outing go to waste as Spain chalked up its first Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball win at the expense of Greece, 84-77 on Tuesday, July 30 (Philippine time).
Santi Aldama came up big in the final minutes, scoring five of his 19 points after Antetokounmpo and Greece came back from 14 points down to tie things up at 71-all with 4:35.
Aldama, who also had 12 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks, instigated the 8-0 run after that to give La Roja a 79-71 advantage entering the final two minutes.
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Antentokounmpo and the Greeks refused to throw in the towel, with the former NBA MVP pulling his team to within three, 80-77 on a three-point play with 59.1 ticks to go.
He had a chance to knot the count, but his three-point attempt went short before Willy Hernangomez and Alberto Diaz sealed the win at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Veterans Sergio Llull contributed 13 points, three rebounds, and seven assists, while Hernangomez turned in 11 points and seven rebounds for the La Roja, who continued to frustrate Antetonkounmpo’s Paris stint with a second straight loss.
The Greek Freak followed up a 34-point game in a loss to Canada in the opener with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but his herculean effort went for naught anew.
Vasillis Toliopoulos also fired four triples on his way to 14 points for the listless Greece in Group B.
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