MIES (Switzerland) - It is now time to meet the six teams in this FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Puerto Rico with the dream of becoming Olympic champions this summer.
Here is the number 67 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 Syria winners Bahrain. The Arabian nation has participated in the FIBA Asia Cup three times and will be participating in an OQT for the first time with the dream of making their first Olympics.
How they qualified
Bahrain's appearance in the OQT Puerto Rico stems back to them qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers for the first time - even though they did not reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. They eventually landed in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 Syria.
Bahrain actually saw little resistance in Syria. They started with an 89-74 win over Saudi Arabia, against whom they lost at home in FIBA AsiaCup 2022 Sub-Zone Pre-Qualifiers back in 2018. Bahrain then blew past Kazakhstan 104-67 before walloping POQTs hosts Syria 91-60.
Bahrain did not miss the opportunity to finish the deal and rolled to a 95-72 victory over Indonesia which locked up first place in the event and a spot in the OQTs. Bahrain finished the OPQT by beating India 79-66 for a perfect 5-0 record.
Record at the Olympics
Appearances: 0 Medals: 0
Recent OQT history*
* Since 2008
Bahrain will be playing in their first OQT and their road to Puerto Rico started with the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 Sub-Zone Pre-Qualifiers back in February 2018. They advanced to the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 Western Region Pre-Qualifiers, from where despite losses to Saudi Arabia and Palestine they qualified for the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 Qualifiers.
Two wins each over India and Iraq secured Bahrain's spot in the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 after the country had missed the event in 2015 and 2017. Just by reaching the FIBA AsiaCup 2022, Bahrain were guaranteed a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.
Last Olympics appearance
Bahrain arrive in Puerto Rico dreaming of their first Olympics. Playing in the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 for their first appearance on the continental stage in nine years, Bahrain lost all three games in Jakarta but gained confidence by losing to China by just one point and to Korea by five points.
In the World Cup Qualifiers, Bahrain went 2-4 in Group D with wins over Syria and Kazakhstan to move into the Second Round, where they lost all six games against Australia, China, Iran and Japan. But by reaching the Second Round, Bahrain were given a spot in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 Syria.
The OQT Group Phase
Going through the POQTs and advancing through the OQTs will be two vastly different challenges as Bahrain will face two veterans at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. First up will be 2023 FIBA World Cup quarter-finalists Italy. The task doesn't get any easier the next day with a game against hosts Puerto Rico. That being said, one win could be enough for Bahrain to actually survive the First Round.
The two top teams from both Groups A and B advance to the Semi-Finals and Bahrain would then have to face one of Côte d'Ivoire, Lithuania and Mexico. The two Semi-Finals winners then square off in the Final with the winner securing a ticket to Paris 2024.
Bahrain OQT games
vs Italy (July 2) vs Puerto Rico (July 3)
Players to watch
Bahrain essentially goes as far as Mustafa Rashed can take them. The guard is the main point man of the country's three-man punch, and Rashed certainly can light up the scoreboard - averaging 21.8 points to go with 3.6 assists in the POQTs. The 22-year-old also displayed his shooting prowess, making 4.6 of 10.0 three-pointers in the five games for a 46 percent clip - including 10 three-pointers against Syria.
Rashed is hardly alone as fellow 22-year-old forward Muzamil Ameer Hamooda collected 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the OPQT. Hamooda, one of the country's biggest rising stars, also shot 45.8 percent on three-pointers during the OPQT and his marksmanship will be needed to help give the post players room to work.
The main one of those being Dwayne Chism, who displayed what he can do at the FIBA AsiaCup 2022 where he averaged 21.3 points, 17.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.3 blocks in three games. Chism's defense and rebounding will be critical for Bahrain to have any chance.
Ahmed Alderazi and Maitham Isa provide some veteran leadership at the point guard spot while Ali Rashed and Ali Kadhem also can give some offensive help and Ali Hasan will give some needed size in the paint.
Qualified Team Focus series
During coming weeks and months, we will continue to check out all teams ready to step out as part of our Qualified Team Focus series. You can already take a look at Lithuania, Italy, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Côte d'Ivoire.
FIBA