GROUP A
GREECE
The Greek squad , led by Head Coach Ilias Zouros, arrives in Venezuela with high confidence after their preparatory games. Hellas NT is practically the same that played so well last year in Lithuania Eurobasket 2011. The biggest changes are the return of Vassilis Spanoulis and the absence of Kostas Koufos. With Spanoulis´ comeback, the Greek Backcourt is probably the strongest of the tournament: PGS Zisis and Calathes together with such an emerging talent as Papanikolau and the danger of Kostas Vasileiadis beyond the arc.
Zouros will have lots of quality options at the PF: Fotsis-Kaimakoglou (who probably play many minutes at small forward) and Printezis, who has been onfire in the last Friendly Tournament played in Brazil this week.
Maybe the ´weakest´ position for the Greeks will be in the frontcourt. Bouroussis and Mavroeidis are the only Big C´s with the absences of Koufos, Schortsianitis and Vougiukas.
Hellas is one of the main favourites and if their offense keeps on working as they have done in these previous weeks, they will get one of the Olympic spots.
JORDAN
Last year in Asiabasket 2011, Jordan managed to reach the final and get the silver medal. Courageous and commited team, they upsetted the Philippines in the semifinals working so hard on deffense.
However, the middle-east team will play this summer without its biggest star PG Rasheem Wright. The American-Jordanian won´t be available for Head Coach Tab Baldwin and the offense will just pend on both experienced PG Osama Daghles and C Zaid Abbas.
Jordanian style has always been quite slow with long possessions and they will truly miss Wright´s outstanding skills as they are the weakest team in this Tournament.
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico NT will have a big test in this Caracas´Olympic Qualifying Tournament after its last week home defeat against Dominican Republic in Centrobasket 2012 (played in San Juan).
HC Flor Meléndez wants a ticket to London for his team, relying on their distinctive and attractive style of play. Run & Gun offense commanded by talented and electric PGS Juan José Barea and Carlos Arroyo. Shooting Guards Huertas and Rosario will open the court to their big men and will be quite dangerous from downtown.
The offensive talents of Nathan Peavy and Renaldo Balkman´s deffensive toughness are the main weapons in the PF. In the paint, the experience of Daniel Santiago together with the quality of Ricky Sánchez make Puerto Rico such a solid team if they are inspired and focused.
GROUP B
LITHUANIA
After an irregular and strange preparation, Lithuania NT arrives in Venezuela with a lot of questions and doubts around the team. HC Kestutis Kemzura has been trying with both successful WC 2010 and disappointing Euro2011 styles of play. The key problem for the Baltic Team is the lack of outsdating long range shooters (Seibutis, Gecevicius and Jasaitis in the back court and Lavrinovic´s brothers and Motiejunas are sidelined).
Despite all absences, Lithuania should be among the favourites to qualify for London2012. With Kleiza, Jasikevicius and Valanciunas as the key offensive references they´ll need more production from the bench. If they find their rhythm in offensive transitions and improve their defensive level they should have many options to be in the semifinals for the sixth consecutive time.
NIGERIA
Building a solid future for Nigeria NT. That´s HC Ayo Bakare´s goal for this tournament with the absence of his most important players (Udoka, Eze, Ere, Umeh).
The roster that arrives in Caracas has lots of new faces regarding last year´s in Madagascar Afrobasket 2011. PG Tony Skin, SGS Obasohan and Oguchi will help NBA SF Al farouq Aminu in the offensive backcourt. The strength and power of Aminu, Diogu and Oyedeji will be their main weapons in the paint.
They were smashed by Brazil and Greece, last week, so they will try to upset Venezuela but I don’t´give them any options.
VENEZUELA
In my opinion, the hosts are going to be serious contenders in this competition and everybody in Caracas expects them to claim one of the Olympic berths. It won´t be easy at all, but Venezuela NT has shewn great commitment in the last two years and they are ready for this contest.
NBA PG Greivis Vásquez is the true offensive leader of the team. Together with him, SGS Cox, Cubillán, Sucre and Zamora complete a dangerous backcourt. In the paint, the experience and talent of Héctor "Pepito" Romero and Óscar Torres will be helped by the toughness of Gregory Echenique and Windi Graterol.
“Venezuelan basketball has advanced more in this year than in the last 20,” Greivis Vásquez said. They play as a team with passion and smartness, so give full credit to HC Eric Musselman.
If they win their first two games - and that’s a big if - the self-belief would grow and the fans would have the opportunity to give the team an extra push in the clashes to follow. It won´t be easy at all, but more than anything at this moment, perspective is needed for Venezuelan basketball.
COMPETITION FORMAT
The Olympic Qualifying Tournament basketball competition for men consists of a Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals.
Preliminary Round
The 12 participating teams will be divided into four groups (A,B,C & D) of three (3) teams each. Each team will play with the other two (2) teams in its own group. The two (2) highest ranked teams in each group will qualify for the Quarter-Finals. The 3th ranked teams in each group will be eliminated and will not play anymore.
Quarter-Finals
The eight (8) teams qualified from the Preliminary Round will play the direct elimination as follows:
A1 vs. B2
B1 vs. A2
C1 vs. D2
D1 vs. C2
The winners of the above games will qualify for the Semi-Finals. The losers will be eliminated and will not play anymore.
Semi-Finals
The winners of the Quarter-Finals will play for places 1-4.
The winners of these games will play in the Gold Medal Game and will qualify to London 2012 Olympic Games.
The losers will play in the Bronze Medal Game. The winner of this game will get the third and last spot to London 2012 Olympics.
