Brazil, Spain, Greece and Puerto Rico prevailed in their Olympic qualifying tournaments on Sunday. The 12-team field that will compete in the Paris Olympics has now been finalized.
The other eight teams had already secured spots in the 12-team tournament.
Bruno Caboclo scored 21 points as Brazil advanced with a 94-69 romp past Latvia. Lorenzo Brown had 18 points and Willy Hernangomez produced nine of his 15 points in the second half as Spain held off the Bahamas, 86-78.
Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 2008. The Bucks superstar had 23 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes as Greece eliminated Croatia, 80-69. Puerto Rico grabbed the last spot by dispatching Lithuania, 79-68. Jose Alvarado scored 23 points as Puerto Rico qualified for the first time since 20o4.
Here’s the group breakdown:
Group A
- Australia
- Canada
- Spain
- Greece
Group B
- Germany
- France
- Japan
- Brazil
Group C
- United States
- Serbia
- South Sudan
- Puerto Rico
Each team plays three games during the group stage (once vs. every group opponent), and the top-two finishers from each group — plus the two best third-place finishers — will qualify to the quarterfinals. The men’s tournament will begin on July 27.
Sheesh, that spelling of Puerto Rico.
Pronounced pwero reechay
PUERTO RICO … Perfect Spelling, My Friend for the “Island of Enchantment”.
Why does the US always have a cakewalk? Every time, these other countries are pitted together like the western conference and the US plays teams like Angola.
The US has only lost one match since 2004. So their grouping really doesn’t matter.
Just the way seeding works really. Four pots with three teams in each, the top 3 seeds won’t ever be in the same group against each other and the US and Canada will never be in the same group thanks to a rule that prevents two teams from the same continent being in the same group (rule doesn’t apply to the teams from Europe). Fwiw though, Serbia is the 4th ranked team in the world so hardly a cakewalk. Group A is clearly the “group of death” with all 4 teams in the top 14 world rankings, but Group B and C are relatively even at least going off world rankings.
It isn’t like it really matters though. Yes the last 5 MVPS have been international but they are 1 guy. Their respective countries would have to have perfect games.
Serbia is pretty good, they gave France the home country a cakewalk. Germany has Wagner boys and Dennis S that I know of. Japan and Brazil are not much better than Sudan and Puerto Rico.
Canada has toughest group.
Luka is a fluke.
Japan was a surprise but then again they have tons of world class athletes.
Somewhere, Sillivan is working diligently on trade proposals and free agent signings to strengthen each of these squads.
In the next room, Adam Silver is pushing to add 8 more teams, and each match up be a best of 7 series.
SILLIVAN “SILLY FAN” SILVER
Sillivan is Artificial Unintelligence
USA, Canada, France, Serbia
PUERTO RICO… Soul and Spice Going To the Paris Olympiad … both Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams … An Island small in size but HUGE IN TALENT and HEART !!
Yall need to ask for independence frfr