Homer Netzipoglou made a good impression in the Greek national basketball team’s friendly match against Cyprus and is optimistic that the “official favorite” will be ready on Friday for the crucial match against Ukraine in Riga, as part of the World Cup qualifiers.
“As for the last game, Cyprus deserves congratulations for playing exceptionally well. Our preparation is going very well; Coach Spanoulis is laying the right groundwork, and I’m confident we’ll be ready for the very crucial games ahead of us,” said the Olympiacos shooting guard.
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Regarding Friday’s game against Ukraine, he said: “Every game in modern basketball comes with its own challenges; you can’t underestimate any opponent. Cyprus gave us a pretty good test, and we had the chance to try out some things, especially for the first game against Ukraine, where I believe we’ll be ready to do whatever it takes.”
But what factor will determine the outcome of this crucial matchup? The international guard responds, “In games like this, I believe a lot comes down to defense and toughness—how willing you are to dive for every ball. So I think our defensive approach is crucial to getting to the opponent’s basket with more confidence, where we have players who can be reliable.”
Omiros Netzioglou will always wear the national team jersey with pride and adds that “I’m always very happy to be among these top athletes and coaches and to experience moments like wearing the national emblem and hearing our national anthem, especially since it was a joint match against Cyprus. Representing your country is something unique; I’ll be here for whatever the national team needs, and I’m ready at any time to do whatever the coach asks of me—to step in and give it my all.”
*Photo source: Hellenic Basketball Federation
