Tough draw for Olympics spot

Greece to face formidable Brazil in basketball qualifying tournament for Beijing Games

Greece coach Panayiotis Yiannakis will be hoping his team benefits from vociferous home support at the Olympics qualifying tournament in Athens, July 14 to 20, where 12 teams will vie for three remaining berths.

Greece will need to overcome Brazil, a formidable force in international basketball, for a place at the Olympic basketball tournament in Beijing, following a draw held in Athens yesterday.

The men’s national team is among 12 contestants that will battle for three remaining Olympic berths at a qualifying tournament to be held in Athens from July 14 to 20. Nine teams have already booked their places.

Besides Brazil, Greece will face Lebanon, on the opening day of play, in Group A. Group B consists of Cape Verde, New Zealand and Germany. Korea, Canada and Slovenia were drawn into Group C, and Cameroon, Puerto Rico and Croatia into Group D.

The top two in each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The winners will go to the semifinals and the two winning semifinalists will qualify for the Olympics. The losing pair will clash for third place and the other berth.

Nine teams have already qualified for the men’s Olympic tournament, August 10 to 24, at the Beijing Games. Angola advanced as African champion, Argentina as Americas runners-up, Australia as Oceania champion, China as host, Iran as Asian champion, Lithuania as the bronze medalist at the Europeans, Russia as the European Champion, Spain as World Champion, and the USA as Americas Champion.

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