BROOKLYN (2016 Rio Olympics) - Andrea Bargnani fully understands one thing when it comes to Italy's bid to reach the Rio de Janeiro Games via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin.

Every second and every minute of every game will matter. Errors could prove fatal.

Each game will be a Final. You cannot afford to make a mistake. - Bargnani

Never have truer words been spoken. In Turin, as well as the OQTs in Belgrade and Manila, each team will have games against their two group opponents. The top two sides will progress to the Semi-Finals and face a team from the other group. The two Semi-Final winners will then meet with a spot in the Olympics on the line.

Every game will be important. Defeats may eliminate teams from Olympic contention. Italy will take on Tunisia on 4 July in their first Group B game and then face Croatia the following day. Greece, Mexico and Iran will play in Group A.

Italy will like their chances. They played very well last year at the EuroBasket and only fell out of medal contention after suffering an overtime defeat to Lithuania in the Quarter-Finals. The Azzurri, who played hard and with a lot of pizzazz, came in sixth to clinch an OQT place.

Bargnani, who was speaking to Gazzetta TV about Italy's OQT challenge, said: "It's a strange format. I don't think any of us have played in such a tournament."

The old 12-team format was used at the previous OQTs in Athens (2008) and Caracas (2012).

Bargnani is nevertheless very excited about the opportunity to not only fight for a spot in the Olympics but to do so in front of his compatriots. The Brooklyn Nets big man has never played in an important tournament in Italy with his senior national team. It should help that the squad coached by Ettore Messina will have the sixth man behind them.

We all knew that there would be very competitive teams. I am personally very happy that we will play in Italy. We have to prepare. We are all really charged up and we can't wait. - Bargnani

FIBA