Qualification suggests turning of the tides for Russia

MUNICH (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - After waiting for results to fall their way in the EuroBasket 2015 Second Qualifying Round, Russia have made it easier on themselves this time around.

With a convincing 78-67 road win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday night, Russia have confirmed their qualification for next year's Final Round with two gamedays remaining. Belgium, Poland and Hungary could be the next teams to confirm their tickets with wins on Wednesday night.

This comes as a far cry from 2014 when they were made to sweat like they were sitting in a sauna.

Following a shock loss to Switzerland in the very first game of the EuroBasket 2015 2nd Qualifying Round, Russia then needed to defeat Italy on the road on the penultimate game day, before returning home to watch anxiously as Italy in turn defeated Switzerland, confirming their qualification to last year's Final Round.

Russia not qualifying for a EuroBasket Final Round is almost unthinkable, particularly following their 2011 podium finish in Lithuania, followed up by an Olympic bronze medal a year later.

Since then however, the traditional European powerhouse has suffered through a tumultuous period, resulting in a 1-4 Group Phase record at EuroBasket 2013, the near-miss in 2015 qualification, and another 1-4 record at the Final Round last year.

But under the newly-formed tutelage of Sergey Bazarevich, Russia appear to have turned a page in the right direction. The 51-year-old play-caller knows what it means to experience success at the highest level, having won silver at both the World Cup and EuroBasket as a guard.

Sergey Bazarevich has discovered the same success coaching as he experienced as a player

He has also already tasted success as a coach at European level, winning the 2013 EuroChallenge with Krasnye Krylia. Now, having built a winning team for this campaign, despite being without the services of the injured Aleksey Shved, Vitaly Fridzon and Sergey Monya, there is every reason to believe Bazarevich can once again return to a European podium 12 months from now.

FIBA