GB LEARN WORLD CUP PATH
Great Britain have learnt their opponents for the first phase of qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The draw, made in Guangzhou, China on Sunday, pitted GB against Greece, Israel and one team coming through August’s additional qualifying tournament for a campaign that will start in November.
GB, who will face both their confirmed opponents in friendlies this coming summer, will open up with a home game against the Greeks on November 24 Â and then complete the group with a home tie against the qualifier on June 29 2018 followed by a visit from Israel on July 2.
The away ties will be against the qualifier on November 27, at Israel on February 22 2018 and in Greece on 25 February.
With GB set to be under a new coach following the anticipated departure of Joe Prunty after this summer’s EuroBasket, it will see the national side attempt to reach a World Cup for the first time.
However, following a switch to the new international basketball schedule that sees qualifiers take place in-season, it will rule out North American-based players for the fixtures in November and February at least with the windows in June and September likely to be the only time full squads are available.
Three teams from the group will advance into the second round of qualifying which starts in September 2018.
At the end of the campaign in February 2019, 12 spots for Europe will be filled among the 31 nations joining hosts China at the first-ever 32-team edition of FIBA’s flagship event.
The qualifiers also lead directly to the next Olympic Games, in Tokyo, with seven teams earning direct berths and the other vacancies filled through an additional tournament in 2020.
British Basketball has indicated it will take the qualifiers around the country with Glasgow’s Emirates Arena and Leicester Riders arena understood to be in pole position to host games.
European Draw
Group A:Â Montenegro, Slovenia, Qualifier, Spain
B: Qualifier, Turkey, Latvia, Ukraine
C: Poland, Qualifier, Lithuania, Hungary
D: Italy, Qualifier, Croatia, Romania
E: Qualifier, Belgium, France, Russia
F: Qualifier, Czech Rep, Finland, Iceland
G: Germany, Serbia, Qualifier, Georgia,
H: Israel, GREAT BRITAIN, Greece, Qualifier
Do you like our work?
We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.
We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.
We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.
If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.
We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.
0 comments