By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
One game left in the preliminary round of the Olympic Games basketball tournament for all 12 participating national teams. Australia, France, Slovenia, and Spain have advanced to the next round, but only the Tricolor are guaranteed to be seeded in Sunday’s draw. Four more quarterfinal spots are still up for grabs.
The three group winners will be seeded, under the adjusted format. The fourth side seeded will be the second-placed team with the most wins or the best point differential among the three groups. The other two second-placed teams will not be seeded but will progress along with the two best third-placed teams.
Here is the breakdown of the three groups:
Group A
The USA meets the Czech Republic with the winner finishing second and the losing side third. However, it’s much more complicated than it seems as the best second among the three groups will be seeded in Sunday’s draw and the worst third will be eliminated. Team USA carrying a 47-point differential will likely be looking good in the tiebreaker for second or third place. The Czechs are currently at -14.
France is locked in the first place. Its final preliminary round opponent, Iran is locked in fourth, therefore eliminated.
Standings
1. y-France 4 (2-0)
2. USA 3 (1-1)
3. Czech Republic 3 (1-1)
4. e-Iran 2 (0-2)
Saturday
Iran vs. France
USA vs. Czech Republic
Group B
The most complicated group, as the four teams will worry about tiebreakers within the group, besides those with the other groups.
Australia has clinched a quarterfinal berth and will land first place if it defeats Germany. A potential loss would rank them second if Nigeria overcomes Italy and in a three-way tie for first place with Germany and Italy, if the latter wraps up the group stage with a W. In that case the Boomers will rank second with a loss by a margin of six points or less and third with a loss by a margin of seven points or more.
Italy gets the second seed with a win paired with Australia prevailing but jumps in the aforementioned three-way tie with a win paired with Germany upping its record to 2-1. If Germany wins by a margin of 17 points or less, the Italians rank first. A win by a margin bigger than 18 points will drop them to second place.
Italy losing to Nigeria would signal an early exit if Germany defeats Australia. If Australia beats Germany then a loss by margin of eight points or less would secure the second spot, by a margin between nine points and 13 would generate third place, and by a margin greater than 14 points a return home.
Germany will claim first place if it defeats Australia and Nigeria takes down Italy. If Germany and Italy win, it will rank first with a win by a margin greater than 18 points, a win from seven to 13 points secures second place and under six third place.
Germany will finish third with a loss paired with an Italy win. A loss plus a Nigeria win would mean third place again if the African national team wins by a margin of four points or less, or by a margin greater than 14 points. A Nigeria win between five and 13 points would eliminate the Germans.
Nigeria would finish third with a win plus a Germany win. If Nigeria and Australia win, then it’s third place again with a win by a margin between five and eight points, and second with a win by a margin greater than nine points. A win under four points would not be enough to advance. A loss would also eliminate the Nigerians.
Standings
1. y-Australia 4 (2-0)
2. Italy 3 (1-1)
3. Germany 3 (1-1)
4. Nigeria 2 (0-2)
Saturday
Italy vs. Nigeria
Australia vs. Germany
Group C
The winner of the clash between Slovenia and Spain will rank first and send the loser to the second spot. Slovenia at +53 and Spain at +21 can evolve into the best second-placed side, which would get both seeded in the draw.
The winner of Argentina versus Japan will finish third and would need to rank above at least one of the remaining thirds to progress. The losing side will be eliminated.
Standings
1. y-Slovenia 4 (2-0)
2. y-Spain 4 (2-0)
3. Argentina 2 (0-2)
4. Japan 2 (0-2)
Sunday
Argentina vs. Japan
Spain vs. Slovenia
y-clinched quarterfinal berth
e-eliminated
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL