MIES (Switzerland) - It's now time to meet the six teams playing at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia. This time, we look at Spain.
The number 2 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, Spain have reason to aim high. They have won four medals at Olympics - silver in 1984, 2008 and 2012, and bronze in 2016. The other three European countries to win at least three silver medals at the Olympics are the Soviet Union (they won four), Yugoslavia and France (both won three).
How they qualified
Spain began their title defense at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Jakarta with First Round wins over Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil and Iran but then fell in the Second Round to Latvia, 74-69, and Canada, 88-85, to come up short of the knockout round in Manila.
Sergio Scariolo's team had to settle for ninth place, which was good enough to clinch a spot in the OQTs. Spain made it into the OQT field as one of the best 16 remaining teams that did not advance directly to the Olympics.
The country was then selected to host one of the four OQTs, which it will do in the Mediterranean city of Valencia. Lebanon, Angola, Finland, Poland and the Bahamas will join Spain at the OQT, which runs from July 2-7, with the winner of the event booking a spot at the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.
Record at the Olympics
Appearances: 12 -1960 (14th); 1968 (7th); 1972 (11th); 1980 (4th); 1984 (2nd); 1988 (8th); 1992 (9th); 2000 (9th); 2004 (7th); 2008 (2nd); 2012 (2nd); 2016 (3rd); 2020 (6th)
Medals: 4 - 🥈(1984, 2008, 2012) 🥉(2016)
Recent OQT history*
* Since 2008
Spain qualified directly for the previous four Olympics. They did this by finishing second at FIBA EuroBasket 2007, first at EuroBaskets 2011 and 2015 and first at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This time, however, they must win an OQT. And if they do, there may be an additional benefit to doing so because Spain will have played high-stakes games and built both confidence and chemistry.
Last appearance at the Olympics
Spain opened with wins over hosts Japan (88-77) and Argentina (81-71) but in their third game, against Slovenia, the Luka Doncic-led opposition pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 95-87 victory.
That setback condemned Spain to a Quarter-Final against the USA, the country that had beaten them in their previous four high-stakes encounters at Olympics dating back to 2004. Though Scariolo's team built a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter, Kevin Durant sparked the Americans to a decisive run over the next 10 minutes. The USA pulled away for a big win en route to the gold medal while Spain, who had won medals at the previous three Olympics, finished sixth. It was also the last international games for Spain's legendary brother duo of Pau and Marc Gasol.
The OQT Group Phase
Spain will be favorites at the OQT as the home team in Valencia. Scariolo's team will start the tournament against Lebanon and then face Angola a day later in Group A.
Group B has Finland and Poland, and a Bahamas team that some are predicting will qualify. The Bahamas upset Argentina in the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 Argentina to end the South Americans' hopes of reaching France.
Finland have not played at the Olympics since 1964, while Poland last featured in 1980. The Bahamas have never made it to the Summer Games. Spain defeated Poland in the 2019 World Cup Quarter-Finals, and Finland in the Quarter-Finals of EuroBasket 2022.
Spain OQT games
vs Lebanon (July 2) vs Angola (July 3)
Players to watch
Scariolo has EuroBasket 2022 MVP Willy Hernangomez and his brother, EuroBasket 2022 Final MVP Juancho Hernangomez, as well as Santiago Aldama and Usman Garuba. All four should take leadership roles. While Ricky Rubio has decided not to play this summer, EuroBasket 2022 All-Star Five point guard Lorenzo Brown has.
There are also players such that could and should make big impacts like Alex Abrines, Alberto Diaz, Dario Brizuela and Juan Nunez. Scariolo also has evergreens Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez in the squad. If Fernandez plays at the OQT and then at the Games in France, it would make him a six-time Olympian.
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