Italy is hosting one of three FIBA Olympic qualifying tournaments, but Croatia or Greece are the likeliest picks to emerge from the field of six.
Six teams are split into two groups for a FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament being held this week in Turin, Italy. Group A has Greece, Mexico and Iran, Group B has Tunisia, Croatia and Italy.
Nine teams have already punched their ticket to Rio de Janeiro, including the top-ranked squad in the world in the U.S.
Of the teams playing, the rankings are as follows:
Pool A
Greece – 10th
Iran – 17th
Mexico – 19th
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Pool B
Croatia – 12th
Tunisia – 23rd
Italy – 35th
The top two of each pool play off in the crossover round, with the world rankings seeming to favor a showdown between Greece and Croatia for one of the three remaining Olympic berths.
This tournament is going to be quite close, but I can’t see the host nation Italy winning despite some NBA talent and home-court advantage, their ranking is simply too low. Also Greece and Croatia are just really good basketball teams.
This week long tournament is being played at the same time as the other two so by the end of this week we will know all of the Olympic teams.
Next: Pool A