NICOSIA, September 4 -- Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has sent a message to Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, congratulating him on behalf of the government and the people of Cyprus on the success of the Greek national basketball team in the world basketball championship, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported Monday.

President Papadopoulos praises the strength, collective spirit and sports ethos of the coach and players of the national team, who honoured Greece and Greek sport with their performance and successive victories that led the team to the final.

The Greek team lost to Spain in the Mundobasket finals in Japan 47-70.