AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Seven countries book places in Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament after success in Continental Championships

10/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.

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.
By: FIBA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network