Healthy, present Spanoulis has Greece primed for podium

ZAGREB (EuroBasket 2015) - Six years removed from their last European podium finish, Greece find themselves among the serious contenders to lift the trophy at EuroBasket 2015.

One of the biggest reasons for that is a present and healthy Vassilis Spanoulis.

The 33-year-old guard stepped up in the closing stages against Croatia on Sunday to help Greece finish their comeback and knock off the host team in Group C 72-70, taking the inside track for first place in the Zagreb group.

"I just try to do my job and show the team how to win. And hopefully I do everything it takes to help the team win," Spanoulis said.

"Every time I go to the court I try to be myself and help my teammates to play like a team."  

Winning games is nothing new for the playmaker, who has created his own legacy in the sport, especially in guiding Olympiacos to back-to-back Euroleague titles in 2012 and 2013.

But Hellas faithful haven't had that Spanouis in a while.

After guiding Greece to third place at EuroBasket 2009, Spanoulis was unable to lead the Greeks past Spain at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, falling in the Final Phase.

Spanoulis did not play at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania and then had to suffer at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as Greece lost to Nigeria.

The Larisa-native played at EuroBasket 2013 but suffered an ankle injury early in the tournament, which forced him to miss two First Round games and hindered him the rest of the way as Greece slumped to an 11th placed finish.

Spanoulis did not play at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as he was resting an achy knee, and the Greeks bowed out again in the Round of 16 - this time to Serbia.

But head coach Fotis Katsikaris has his floor general back on board in Zagreb - and Spanoulis has already shown his typical wizardry.

Everybody knows Spanoulis is our leader. It's a blessing to have him. - Zisis

"Some people say we haven't had success for so long. But they forget we didn't have him for two EuroBaskets. And the other [2013)] he had a bone bruise in his ankle," said Nikos Zisis, who is one of Spanoulis' best friends and has played with him for Greece since the junior ranks in 2000 including winning the title at EuroBasket 2005.

But there is no mistaking Spanoulis' importance among his team-mates.

"Everyone knows who Billy is, so there's not much you can say about him," said Kostas Papanikolaou, who has played with Spanoulis for Greece since 2012 and teamed with him for the two Euroleague titles with Olympiacos.

"Of course he's a big asset for us. He knows the team and how to carry a team, how to give his best for a team."

Katsikaris said it's a pure luxury to have Spanoulis and his other playmaking guards, whom he described as "masterminds on the court".

"I'm blessed to have those guards because they are the extension of the coach on the court," said the coach.

There is also an undying faith in Spanoulis within the team - even though some outside the group may question why he takes some of the shots he does.

"We know this is his move. We have a great confidence in him," said Zisis about the big shot making abilities of his friend and team-mate.

And while undefined specifically other than playing "game-by-game", the goal at EuroBasket 2015 is clear.

"Altogether we want to do something good. That's why [Spanoulis] is here. We want to fight and make something good happen," said Papanikolaou.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA