CUB – Zabala hopeful of claiming quarter-final win in Madrid

HAVANA (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – Cuba women’s national team coach Alberto Zabala doesn’t expect any easy games at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Madrid.

But he believes his players are good enough to claim one of the five places still up for grabs for the Beijing Games.

"The options that we have of reaching the Olympics are realistic,” Zabala said to FIBA.Com.

“We are in Group D with Chinese Taipei and Belarus. Our aim is to make it to the second round where we would meet Group C with Brazil or Spain.

“Our hope is to qualify without having to go through the other option.”

If Cuba advance to the quarter-finals and win, they will have a ticket to Beijing.

A defeat would create, as Zabala says, “the other option.”

And that is a mini-tournament with the four losers of the quarter-finals.

The one that emerges victorious will advance to China with the fifth and final qualifying place.

If there is pressure on the Cubans, it doesn’t show because they are thrilled to be headed to Madrid.

“For us, it's an honour to be representing our country in such a prestigious tournament and we hope to do well and be able to succeed,” Zabala said.

FIBA