The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament has been underway with national teams from all over the world vying for the last spot in each playing location to book a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics this July-August. The group stage play has ended and the competition will now move to the semis and the final phase. Only the champion from the 4 playing locations (Latvia, Greece, Puerto Rico, Spain) will qualify to the Olympics. See the results here:
The Philippines have booked a spot in the semifinals after upsetting hosts Latvia, 89-80, in a stunning finish after Latvia manhandled Georgia in their first game. Needing to not lose by more than 19 points against Georgia, the so-called Gilas Pilipinas stepped up against Georgia to come back and lose by just two, 96-94, to punch a surprise ticket to the semifinals.
On the other side of the bracket, Brazil, Montenegro, and Cameroon all won against the other (Brazil over Montenegro, Montenegro over Cameroon, and Cameroon over Brazil). However due to a superior quotient based on the points for and away rule, Brazil and Cameroon will advance to the semis.
That will set up the matchup between Brazil and the Philippines on one side and hosts Latvia and Cameroon on the other.
🚨 Stage is set 🚨
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 4, 2024
Who will qualify for #Paris2024? 🤔#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/H0p7Jdavy1
Hosts Puerto Rico lit up the crowd on their home floor after finishing atop their group by winning against Italy and Bahrain. Lithuania on the other side of the bracket, took care of business against Mexico and Cote D Ivoire and finished on top of the group as well. They will enter the semis as the top seeds, facing Mexico and Italy, respectively.
The #FIBAOQT Semi-Finals in San Juan are set!
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 5, 2024
Find the schedule here: https://t.co/HfGjXQ3M7C
Who you got? 👀 pic.twitter.com/a7ED3qkpfp
Over in Spain, the Bahamas continue their stellar run behind NBA players DeAndre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon to zoom out to the top of their group, beating Poland and Finland. Hosts Spain made quick work of Lebanon and Angola, to finish first in their group as well. They will battle against Lebanon and Finland respectively in the crossover semis.
And then there were four.
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 4, 2024
Who's grabbing the #Paris2024 ticket in #FIBAOQT Spain? 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/pDgRkqnzWP
Finally, NBA superstars Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have set up a duel against each other in the group of death of the 2024 FIBA OQT in Piraeus, Greece. Doncic and Slovenia split their matches against Croatia and New Zealand to finish second in their group while Giannis and Greece blew out both the Dominican Republic and Egypt to finish as the 1-seed. Only one of Luka and Giannis will go to the Olympics this year, setting the stage for an epic finish between the two heavyweights and their teams.
Check out the schedule here ⬇️#FIBAOQT https://t.co/YbmHaIyYsj
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 4, 2024