MIES (2016 Rio Olympics) - Seven national teams from all over the world had unforgettable summers while playing in their continental championships.
Not only did Australia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Spain and China capture titles, and both Argentina and Lithuania finish runners-up in their respective competitions, but each clinched spots in next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Not only did Australia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Spain and China capture titles, and both Argentina and Lithuania finish runners-up in their respective competitions, but each clinched spots in next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
With Olympic hosts Brazil and 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup winners USA already in the men's tournament, the first to join them in next year's extravaganza was Australia after their sweep of New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Championship.
The Boomers remained composed during the pre-game Haka in Melbourne and then showed tremendous grit on defense and overall mental fortitude during their 71-59 victory over the Tall Blacks in Game 1, and then three days later in Wellington when winning, 89-79.
In the opener, the Boomers broke open a close contest in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Kiwis, 22-15.
Pat Mills, David Andersen (both 17 points) and Matthew Dellavedova (15 points) led the way.
Then in Game 2, Dellavedova had 14 points as Australia recorded a second victory in the showdown.
Next to seal places in Rio by winning their respective Semi-Finals at the 10-team FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City were Venezuela and Argentina.
The Venezuelans, coached by Nestor 'Che' Garcia, were probably the biggest surprise of all this summer.
After becoming the last team to clinch a place in the Semi-Finals, they upset Canada, 79-78, with power forward Windi Graterol pouring in a team-high 20 points, which included a three-of-five effort from long range.
Heissler Guillent was also sensational with his shooting from the arc, burying four of nine attempts on his way to 19 points.
Argentina, still getting tremendous performances from evergreens Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni, and a lot of savvy from point guard Facundo Campazzo, came from behind to beat hosts Mexico, 78-70, in the other Semi-Final.
Scola was named the MVP of the tournament.
Venezuela, who will play at the Olympics for the first time since 1992, then capped a magical summer by beating Argentina in the title game, 76-71.
The 16-team AfroBasket was being staged in Tunisia just as the FIBA Americas Championship was winding down and the team that captured most of the headlines in Tunis was Nigeria, who won the tournament for the first time in their history.
The D'Tigers, despite playing without injured star Ike Diogu, marched into the Semi-Finals and defeated Senegal, 88-79, with Chamberlain Oguchi erupting for 28 points.
Oguchi hit an eye-popping eight three-pointers in the game, and the next night rose to the occasion with a game-high 19 points as Nigeria won convincingly over Angola, 74-65.
The 29-year-old sharpshooter was so good that he scooped MVP honors at the end of the AfroBasket.
Just days after the conclusion of the AfroBasket, the 24-team EuroBasket tipped off in Montpellier, Berlin, Zagreb and Riga.
Spain and Lithuania had to overcome plenty of adversity but did so to reach the Final and clinch spots in Rio.
Minus several important players from years gone by but with Sergio Scariolo back as coach and Pau Gasol playing some of the best basketball of his international career, Spain made it to the top of the podium.
His signature performance and Spain's most important win came after overtime against the host nation, France, in the Semi-Finals.
Not only did that performance and result allow them to avenge last year's Quarter-Final defeat to Les Bleus at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Madrid, but it also punched their ticket to Brazil.
Spain got excellent performances late in the tournament from Sergio Rodriguez who, like Gasol made the All-Star Five.
Lithuania had to win thrillers against Georgia, Italy and then Serbia to reach the Final and qualify for the Olympics, something they have done on every occasion since making it to the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Lithuania's Jonas Maciulis and Jonas Valanciunas were immense and joined Gasol, Rodriguez and France's Nando de Colo in the All-Star Five.
In China, there was no shortage of drama at the FIBA Asia Championship which only wrapped up on Saturday.
Having fallen to Chinese Taipei in the Quarter-Finals two years ago in Manila, China this time put together a blistering unbeaten run under coach Gong Luming to capture the continental title and qualify for Rio.
Yi Jianlian was named the MVP of the tournament, but China's strength was their depth and the emergence of youngster Zhou Qi who, like Yi, made the All-Star Five.
Other than a come-from-behind victory over Korea, China were convincing winners against the rest of the field.
They ended the title defence of Iran in the Semi-Finals and then booked their Olympic place with a 78-67 victory over the Filipinos in the championship game.
There remain three places up for grabs in Rio.
New Zealand, Angola, Tunisia, Senegal, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France, Serbia, Greece, Italy, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Iran and Japan finished high enough in their respective events this summer to claim spots in one of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).
There will be three six-team OQTs and the winner of each will qualify for Rio.
The Boomers remained composed during the pre-game Haka in Melbourne and then showed tremendous grit on defense and overall mental fortitude during their 71-59 victory over the Tall Blacks in Game 1, and then three days later in Wellington when winning, 89-79.
In the opener, the Boomers broke open a close contest in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Kiwis, 22-15.
Pat Mills, David Andersen (both 17 points) and Matthew Dellavedova (15 points) led the way.
Then in Game 2, Dellavedova had 14 points as Australia recorded a second victory in the showdown.
Next to seal places in Rio by winning their respective Semi-Finals at the 10-team FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City were Venezuela and Argentina.
The Venezuelans, coached by Nestor 'Che' Garcia, were probably the biggest surprise of all this summer.
After becoming the last team to clinch a place in the Semi-Finals, they upset Canada, 79-78, with power forward Windi Graterol pouring in a team-high 20 points, which included a three-of-five effort from long range.
Heissler Guillent was also sensational with his shooting from the arc, burying four of nine attempts on his way to 19 points.
Argentina, still getting tremendous performances from evergreens Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni, and a lot of savvy from point guard Facundo Campazzo, came from behind to beat hosts Mexico, 78-70, in the other Semi-Final.
Scola was named the MVP of the tournament.
Venezuela, who will play at the Olympics for the first time since 1992, then capped a magical summer by beating Argentina in the title game, 76-71.
The 16-team AfroBasket was being staged in Tunisia just as the FIBA Americas Championship was winding down and the team that captured most of the headlines in Tunis was Nigeria, who won the tournament for the first time in their history.
The D'Tigers, despite playing without injured star Ike Diogu, marched into the Semi-Finals and defeated Senegal, 88-79, with Chamberlain Oguchi erupting for 28 points.
Oguchi hit an eye-popping eight three-pointers in the game, and the next night rose to the occasion with a game-high 19 points as Nigeria won convincingly over Angola, 74-65.
The 29-year-old sharpshooter was so good that he scooped MVP honors at the end of the AfroBasket.
Just days after the conclusion of the AfroBasket, the 24-team EuroBasket tipped off in Montpellier, Berlin, Zagreb and Riga.
Spain and Lithuania had to overcome plenty of adversity but did so to reach the Final and clinch spots in Rio.
Minus several important players from years gone by but with Sergio Scariolo back as coach and Pau Gasol playing some of the best basketball of his international career, Spain made it to the top of the podium.
His signature performance and Spain's most important win came after overtime against the host nation, France, in the Semi-Finals.
Not only did that performance and result allow them to avenge last year's Quarter-Final defeat to Les Bleus at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Madrid, but it also punched their ticket to Brazil.
Spain got excellent performances late in the tournament from Sergio Rodriguez who, like Gasol made the All-Star Five.
Lithuania had to win thrillers against Georgia, Italy and then Serbia to reach the Final and qualify for the Olympics, something they have done on every occasion since making it to the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Lithuania's Jonas Maciulis and Jonas Valanciunas were immense and joined Gasol, Rodriguez and France's Nando de Colo in the All-Star Five.
In China, there was no shortage of drama at the FIBA Asia Championship which only wrapped up on Saturday.
Having fallen to Chinese Taipei in the Quarter-Finals two years ago in Manila, China this time put together a blistering unbeaten run under coach Gong Luming to capture the continental title and qualify for Rio.
Yi Jianlian was named the MVP of the tournament, but China's strength was their depth and the emergence of youngster Zhou Qi who, like Yi, made the All-Star Five.
Other than a come-from-behind victory over Korea, China were convincing winners against the rest of the field.
They ended the title defence of Iran in the Semi-Finals and then booked their Olympic place with a 78-67 victory over the Filipinos in the championship game.
There remain three places up for grabs in Rio.
New Zealand, Angola, Tunisia, Senegal, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France, Serbia, Greece, Italy, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Iran and Japan finished high enough in their respective events this summer to claim spots in one of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).
There will be three six-team OQTs and the winner of each will qualify for Rio.
By: FIBA.com
RSS Feed