Great Britain received a benevolent draw for the 2019 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket.Â
Chema Buceta’s side were pitted against Ukraine, co-hosts Latvia and reigning champions Spain in their first round group which will take place in Riga.
Their opening game on 27 June will be against the Latvians, followed by Spain the next day and then concluding versus Ukraine on June 30.
The winners of each of the four first-round groups will advance directly into the quarter-finals in Belgrade while the second and third placed sides will play off in crossover games to join them in the Serbian capital.
GB were in the fourth and lowest pool of seeds but will feel confident of matching Ukraine and Latvia at least to finish in the two in their pool and stand a chance of progress.
“We did a great job being able to qualify and now we have to be ambitious in the final phase of EuroBasket Women,” Buceta said. “Our group is tough, as all the groups are. This is the 16-team EuroBasket, with no room for weak teams.
“We have to focus on ourselves and prepare well for each game, game-by-game, step-by-step, believing on what we have proven we can do.”
The tournament opens up on 27 June with the final on 7 July.Â
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
Riga | Riga | Nisu | Zrenjanin |
1. Ukraine 2. Great Britain 3. Latvia 4. Spain |
1. Sweden 2. France 3. Czech Rep 4. Montenegro |
1. Hungary 2. Turkey 3. Italy 4. Slovenia |
1. Belarus 2. Russia 3. Belgium 4. Serbia |
Group A it is! Can’t wait for @EuroBasketWomen 2019! See everyone in Latvia. @gbbasketball pic.twitter.com/PhjcbwkqQO
— Rachael Vanderwal OLY (@rachvanderwal) December 12, 2018
The tournament mascots, Roll and Pick, were also unveiled.
Kittens on parade (FE)
Rewatch the draw
Twitter updates Meanwhile, Great Britain men’s must-win EuroBasket pre-qualifier against Cyprus on February 21 is now to be staged in Manchester with their potentially decisive return with Austria three days later in Schwecat.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.
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