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Cyprus: Host Role, Harsh Reality

Group C – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Hosting EuroBasket 2025 should be a moment of celebration for Cyprus, but on the court, it’s shaping up to be a steep uphill climb. The home crowd will bring energy, but the talent gap is stark — Cyprus went 0–6 in the qualifiers and none of the losses were particularly close.

Best Players: Konstantinos Simitzis showed flashes during qualifiers, while Darral Willis was one of their better performers but won’t suit up for the tournament. Filippos Tigkas is the name to watch — a crafty young guard who could emerge as a breakout player despite the team’s struggles.

Path: 0–6. Cyprus never managed to find footing or momentum and couldn’t compete for wins across the board. As tournament hosts, they qualify automatically — but on paper, they remain a tier below the rest of Group C.

Strengths: Tigkas brings legitimate talent and flair to the backcourt. He’ll be given the keys and a green light, which could lead to some highlight moments even in tough losses.

Weaknesses: The talent gap is real. Cyprus struggles to shoot from deep, turns the ball over too often, and lacks the depth or size to compete for four quarters. They’ll battle — but realistically, they’ll be outgunned in every matchup.

Bottom Line: Cyprus is here thanks to the host berth, and they’ll embrace the stage — but every game will be a survival test. Still, the experience could be invaluable for their younger core.

Expectation: #24 – The Host Underdog

Competitive spirit isn’t the issue. Talent is.

This article was co-written by the hosts of the European Hoops podcast, Tiago Cordeiro and André Lemos. Subscribe to the podcast and follow European Hoops on Twitter: @EthosEuroleague.