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The match between the basketball teams of Greece and Ivory Coast on the playground in Ankara was more like a party. The Greek nationals, already freed of the loss from Turkey, proved their skills again and defeated the rival team by 97-60. Of course, the fact that the team of Ivory Coast is much weaker is not irrelevant to their triumph...

Despite the outcome of the match, the beginning was difficult and did not augur a brilliant end for Greece. The nationals played sluggishly and the game had no rhythm which boded a hard-driven match instead of victory. The weaknesses the team showed during the match with Turkey were visible on the playground again. The back was weak and the attacks were weak. The rambling game of the Greeks enabled the Ivory Coast to advance. Thus, the rival led with a 7-0 in the 7^th minute. The players Eddie, Diabate and Konate took advantage of the loose defence of the Greek basket. This lead won as if just for fun acted as a cold shower to the Greek team. Tsartsaris and Spanoulis put an end to the blurry game and to the lack of coordination in the team. They made successful series of 9-0 in response to the loss. Fotsis attacked subsequently and the team managed to end the first quarter with 20-14. This symbolic boom was their way up, which lasted until the end of the match.

The next 10 minutes turned to be especially good for the nationals. They demonstrated ther famous image of a strong defence and a powerful attack. Tsartsaris made a double-digit difference in the result winning 6 points one after another. Eddie proceed to attack again, but Greece managed to opress its rival. Kalathis, Schortsanitis and Bourousis made storm of baskets that led to the 47-19 result. Triumph was already in the air. The third quarter was virtually a repeat of the second one and ended 38-81. Greece have anticipated its victory. When the nationals found out that there’s no way back they relaxed and slowed down the pace of the game. The rival took advantage of this and managed to regain some lost points. However, they didn’t change the outcome of the match.

After the triumph over Ivory Coast the Greek nationals will play with the team of Russia. The match will take place on September 2 and it will determine which team will take the second place in the group.
 

Minutes: 20-14, 19-47, 38-81, 60-97