Greek hoopsters go top of their group in World Cup

Greece is now secure in the last 16.

Greece has qualified to the second round of the FIBA World Cup after third win.

Greece has qualified to the second round of the FIBA World Cup after going top of its group of six through a third win in as many group games in Spain. This week it beat Puerto Rico 90-79 in Seville and is now eyeing a top-two finish in its pool.

In its first couple of games in the tournament, Greece topped Senegal with a 87-64 score on Saturday and defeated the Philippines 82-70 on Sunday, so it went into Monday’s game knowing that victory would send it through to the last 16.

After Costas Kaimakoglou and Giorgos Printezis stood out against Senegal and the Philippines respectively, it was Nikos Zisis who stole the show for the Greek national team against a determined Puerto Rico, scoring 19 points on the night.

The results mean that Greece is now the only team left unbeaten in its group and after its day off on Tuesday it will face Croatia on Wednesday and Argentina on Thursday in an effort to clinch a top-two finish that will see it land an easier opponent in the next round of the tournament.