Cyprus men's basketball team concludes friendly series against Greece

On August 24, 2026, the Cyprus men’s national basketball team faced the Greek national team in a historic friendly match held at the Telekom Center in Athens. This encounter marked the first time the two senior men's squads have met on Greek soil. Despite being shorthanded due to the absence of key players Filippos Tigkas, Konstantinos Simitzis, Nikos Stylianou, and Aineas Jung—all members of the EuroBasket 2025 roster—the Cypriot team demonstrated significant competitiveness.

Under the guidance of coach Panagiotis Giannaras, Cyprus maintained a strong performance, leading 21-17 after the first quarter and remaining competitive for much of the game. However, a decisive second quarter allowed Greece to gain the upper hand, ultimately resulting in an 82-75 victory for the home side. The match served as a critical final preparation stage before the official start of the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers.

The team is now focusing on the official start of the competition. On Thursday, August 27, Cyprus is scheduled to host Austria at the Spyros Kyprianou Stadium in Limassol for the opening game of the second round of the pre-qualifiers.