Czechs predict OQT hosts Serbia will stand in their way of Rio berth

PRAGUE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - One country is on the lips of all the Czech Republic national team players and coaches as they review their draw for FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs). That country is Serbia.

The Belgrade OQT is where the Czechs will play in a bid to reach the reach the Rio de Janeiro Games. They were drawn in Group B with Japan and Latvia.

If they clinch a top-two finish in that pool, they will meet in a Semi-Final one of the top two sides from a Group A that consists of Serbia, Angola and Puerto Rico. The two Semi-Final winners will then square off with a spot in the Olympics at stake.

The Czechs are convinced of a couple of things. They believe they will have a strong OQT performance, and that the Rio berth will eventually come down to a match-up between themselves and the hosts.

"The draw is very good, at least in terms of the mini-group [Group B]," Czech captain Jiri Welsch said.

Of course there's one big 'but', namely that Serbia stands in the way on our quest, and they also play at home. Of all the possibilities there were in the OQTs draw, this is probably the toughest one we could get. - Welsch

"Serbia, along with France, are the best teams in the Olympic Qualification Tournaments. So there's that one very difficult hurdle, but otherwise the draw was positive. We have to take it step by step and see what happens."

The first steps for the Czechs involve going up against two old acquaintances in Group B. Last August, during preparations for EuroBasket 2015, the Czech Republic played a warm-up game against Japan and won, 86-71.

Then at the EuroBasket, they faced Latvia twice, losing 72-65 during in the Group Phase in Riga but coming out on top, 97-70, in the game for seventh place in Lille.

"When we played against Japan in preparations the result was absolutely clear," Welsch said. "The Latvians are a good team, especially if they have the addition of Kristaps Porzingis this summer. He did not play at the EuroBasket but he's doing fantastically in the NBA this season and I imagine he will not want to miss out on the OQT."

Czech Republic coach Ronen Ginzburg is more cautious about his team's match-ups in Group B but he, too, thinks a critical game against Serbia is in front of his team.

"Playing in Serbia is never easy, but in a tournament where you play four games over six days, anything can happen. First, we need to advance from the mini-group and then eventually confront Serbia. - Ginzburg

"The draw must have pleased the fans, because they don't have to travel to the Philippines," Ginzburg said. "I believe they will come and support us in Belgrade.

"We will be playing in a gigantic arena, there will be a crazy atmosphere. It will be something unique that fans need to experience for themselves."

FIBA