Hoopsters are ready to score

The national men’s basketball team seems to be finding its way again after gradually waning as a European power in recent years. After registering its sixth successive victory in the Eurobasket 2003 qualifiers in a convincing 92-59 away win against Belgium on Wednesday night, coach Yiannis Ioannidis is already focused on his side’s next opponent, Romania, also in a Eurobasket qualifier, in Athens tomorrow. «We’ll look at Romania and how the team plays and then make our plans,» Ioannidis noted following his side’s win in Belgium. Greece remains undefeated. «Theoretically, we’re a better side. But you need to prove that on the court,» he added. Commenting on the attitude of his players, a topic that has generated much discussion as a result of disappointing performances by the national team in recent years, Ioannidis, who is renowned for his tough demands on players, expressed contentment. «I’m satisfied with this department. We’re on the right track, and, as for whether they’ve changed, attitude is something the public can judge for itself,» said Ioannidis, an experienced and successful coach at club level who took over Greece’s reins a year ago.