GB LEARN EUROBASKET WOMEN PATH - Hoopsfix.com

GB LEARN EUROBASKET WOMEN PATH

Great Britain’s women get a reunion with Russia in their opening game at EuroBasket Women 2015 after the draw took place on Saturday.

GB, who were in the fifth and lowest pool of seeds among the teams bound for Hungary and Romania, will open up on June 12 and then also take Latvia, Serbia and Croatia in consecutive days in their opening round group which will be hosted in the Hungarian city of Szombathely.

The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games.

“It was obviously an exciting day for women’s basketball in Europe,” said GB guard Jo Leedham.

“For Great Britain, we know any group we were going to get was always going to be tough. However, it is surely a confidence booster for us, knowing that we beat three of those teams at the last edition of EuroBasket Women.

“Nevertheless, it is still a very difficult group with five very tough teams all going up against each other.”

In 2013, the Russians – winners in 2011 – exited in the first round, as did Latvia, while Croatia finished below GB in their second round pool following an 85-79 win for Damian Jennings’ side. Serbia eventually finished fourth.

Amid an evenly balanced draw, holders and World Cup finallists Spain meet co-hosts Hungary while 2013 runners-up France take on the other hosts Romania.

Ex-Russian forward Ilona Korstin helped make the draw (FIBA Europe)

Ex-Russian forward Ilona Korstin helped make the draw (FIBA Europe)

Following the First Round, the top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round, which will be played in the Hungarian cities of Debrecen and Gyor.

From there, the top eight teams will advance to the Final Round in Budapest. EuroBasket Women 2015 will take place from 11 to 28 June.

GROUPS

A. France, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Montenegro, Romania (Host: Timișoara, Romania)

B. Turkey, Belarus, Poland, Italy, Greece (Oradea, Romania)

C. Serbia, Croatia, Latvia, Russia, GREAT BRITAIN (Szombathely, Hungary)

D. Spain, Slovakia, Lithuania, Sweden, Hungary (Sopron, Hungary)

GB schedule: 12/6 vs Russia 13/6 vs Latvia 14/6 vs Serbia 15/6 vs Croatia