Slovenia vs Greece Prediction and Preview for FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament | July 6, 2024

The Slovenian and Greek men's national basketball teams try to move a step closer to reaching the Paris Olympic Games when they battle in the semifinals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on July 6 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus.

NBA superstars Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo will lead their respective squads in booking a spot in the finals of the OQT in Greece and get a shot at the lone Olympic ticket on offer.

World No. 11 Slovenia wound up as the second-best team in Group A of their qualifying tournament bracket behind Croatia to advance to the crossover Final Four. It edged out New Zealand for the final spot by having a better quotient of +10 to -22.

Greece (14th), meanwhile, domintated Group B, sweeping both of its two games against the Dominican Republic and Egypt with an average margin of 24.5 points to finish as the No. 1 team in the grouping.

Slovenia vs. Greece FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament semifinal preview

The last time Slovenia and Greece faced off was in a friendly match in August last year ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with the latter winning 88-77.

The contest at hand should be a very competitive one, with both teams showing the needed drive and determination to join the top teams in the world on the Olympic stage.

Slovenia collectively played flat in the opener of their group assignments, losing to Croatia, 108-92, but bounced back against New Zealand, winning 104-78. Luka Doncic has been stellar, averaging 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and poised to continue doing so.

Greece has been lording it on their home floor. Giannis Antetokounmpo only played one game in the group phase, against the Dominican Republic and had 32 points, which speaks a lot of the depth of the Greek national squad.

Slovenia vs. Greece prediction

Greece has been playing splendid basketball in the OQT and one should like its chances of winning over Slovenia, especially playing at home. But Slovenia should not be counted out because between the two, it was tested more in group play and should be ready to buck the odds on game day.

Doncic has been do-it-all and unstoppable while getting ample support from the likes of Josh Nebo (16 ppg and 10.5 rpg) and Klemen Prepelic (16.5 ppg and 5 apg). The key for them is keeping the game close to allow themselves a better opportunity to chalk up a victory.

As for Greece, a rested Antetokounmpo should help its cause but it should be a total team effort because the Slovenians will be a different beast from the teams it has played in the OQT so far.

Slovenia's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament roster

* Luka Doncic

* Josh Nebo

* Klemen Prepelic

* Vlatko Cancar

* Zoran Dragic

* Gregor Hrovat

* Aleksej Nikolic

* Miha Cerkvenik

* Edo Muric

* Ziga Dimec

* Leon Stergar

* Luka Scuka

Greece's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament roster

* Nick Calathes

* Konstantinos Mitoglou

* Kostas Papanikolaou

* Thomas Walkup

* Giannoulis Larentzakis

* Georgios Papagiannis

* Vasilis Charalampopolous

* Vasileios Toliopoulos

* Panagiotis Kalaitzakis

* Giannis Antetokounmpo

* Koustas Antetokounmpo

* Dmitris Moraitis