ATHENS, September 3 -- Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday sent their congratulations and thanks to the country's national basketball team.

The 2005 European champions was defeated by Spain in the final of the World Basketball Championship by 47-70, and got the silver medal, which is the best ever for the country at the international level.

Last week, Greece shocked the US all-NBA national team 101-95.

"Some times words are superfluous, maybe because they are not enough to express the strength of our feelings; for the joy, the moving moments and the pride you generously gave us, all I have to say is a big thank you," President Karolos Papoulias said.

On his part, Prime Minister Karamanlis underlined that "the Greek national team reached the peak of the world after a real feat, and for the third consecutive year, Greece, which believes in its potential, sends it own message to all the world."