MIES (Switzerland) - It is now time to meet the six teams in this FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Spain with the dream of becoming Olympic champions this summer.
Here is the number 15 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the six-time Olympics participants Poland. The Europeans have not played at the Olympics since 1980.
How they qualified
Poland failed to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and instead qualified for the OQT through the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 - Poland - Estonia. Playing the games in Gliwice, Poland defeated Hungary 83-81 to start the tournament and then knocked off Bosnia and Herzegovina 85-76. Poland finished off the group stage with a 13-point win over Portugal.
In the Semi-Finals in Gliwice, Poland defeated Estonia 93-83 to move into the Final - and a rematch with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The game was thrilling with 24 lead changes and six points was the biggest lead. Jaroslaw Zyskowski iced the game with a layup at the buzzer for a 76-72 win.
Record at the Olympics
Appearances: 6 -1936 (4th); 1960 (7th); 1964 (6th); 1968 (6th); 1972 (10th); 1980 (7th) Medals: 0
Recent OQT history*
* Since 2008
Poland have only participated in one OQT thus far in their history - that coming in 2020. The Europeans were in Group B in Kaunas, Lithuania and opened their campaign with an 83-64 victory over Angola. Poland were no match for Slovenia in the second game, losing 112-77.
In the Semi-Finals, Poland were battling with Lithuania in the first half but scored only 6 points in the third quarter en route to an 88-69 loss.
Last Olympics appearance
The last time Poland played at the Olympics was in 1980 in Moscow. Poland faced a tough Group B in the Soviet Union and lost the opening game 104-81 to Spain. The second game was even more of a rout, losing 129-91 to Yugoslavia. But Poland did grab at least one win, beating Senegal 84-64.
Poland bounced back in the Classification Round, beating India by 46 points and Australia by 37 before surviving a battle with Czechoslovakia 88-84. Poland were beaten in the fourth game 70-67 but finished atop the group for seventh place in the Olympics.
The OQT Group Phase
Poland will this summer be in Valencia for the OQT Spain and open their Group B campaign against Bahamas- the winners of the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 - Argentina. The second game will be against Finland, who defeated Poland 89-59 in the group stage of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022. Poland rebounded from that loss though and went all the way to the Semi-Finals, beating Slovenia in the Quarter-Finals.
The two top teams from both Groups A and B reach the Semi-Finals and Poland would have to face one of Spain, Angola, and Lebanon with another victory in the Final needed to reach the Paris Olympics.
Poland OQT games
vs Bahamas (July 3) vs Finland (July 4)
Players to watch
Poland's main leader is Mateusz Ponitka, who is versatile and can lead the team in various aspects with his good size and strong playmaking ability - as evidenced by guiding Poland to the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Semi-Finals.
Poland have some strong talent in the post with Aleksander Balcerowski, Aleksander Dziewa and Jaroslaw Zyskowski.
Michal Sokolowski and Michal Michalak are two wings who can really light it up and Andrzej Pluta does a good job helping out with the playmaking. Poland also are working in future leaders - one of them being the 21-year-old small forward Igor Milicic, son of the head coach Igor Milicic.
Qualified Team Focus series
We've checked out all teams ready to step out as part of our Qualified Team Focus series. You can take a look at Angola, Bahamas, Finland, Lebanon, Poland, and Spain.
FIBA