Brazil coach slams Giannis after beating Greece
Brazil overcame a double-digit deficit and beat Greece 79-78 in a thriller on the FIBA World Cup in Nanjing, China, on Tuesday.
NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo completed with 13 factors however fouled out late within the fourth quarter for Greece.
Brazil’s Alex Garcia, 39, appeared to stifle Antetokounmpo at each flip.
“Why this sport is great,” Brazil coach Aleksandar Petrovic stated. “You’ve a man who gained MVP, he is 23 years previous, and who stops him tonight? The man who’s 40 years previous and kicks his ass.”
Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to dribble by way of Brazil’s Alex Garcia and Brazil’s Vitor Benite. WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Photographs
Anderson Varejao, who final performed within the NBA with the Golden State Warriors two years in the past, led the way in which for Brazil with 22 factors and 9 rebounds, hitting seven of 10 pictures within the second half.
Varejao hit a vital jumper for Brazil with 14 seconds left and Leandro Barbosa hit a closing free throw for a three-point edge.
Greece’s Kostas Sloukas had three free throws with two seconds left that will have tied the rating, however he made solely two. Bruno Caboclo took benefit of FIBA guidelines and batted the ball away to seal the win for Brazil.
“We confirmed that we now have a number of gamers who can cease Antetokounmpo,” Petrovic stated. “However yesterday I used to be extra occupied with Sloukas and [Georgios] Printezis, and that is what occurred at this time. Once I was getting ready this recreation, lots of people talked and joked about methods to cease Antetokounmpo. I had for six months in my head, because the semifinals between Toronto and Milwaukee, methods to cease Antetokounmpo. The issue tonight for us was Sloukas and Printezis.”
Brazil improved to 2-Zero and moved nearer to the second spherical. Greece fell to 1-1 in Group F and can want a win in its closing group recreation with New Zealand.
The Related Press contributed to this report.