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GER/PUR - Germany win over Puerto Rico as Nowitzki finally reaches Olympics

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:52:18 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Germany beat Puerto Rico 96-82 on Sunday in the last game of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to claim the final place on offer for the Beijing Games. Dirk Nowitzki had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Germans, who ...

PUR – Puerto Rico’s Arroyo out of final against Germany

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:23:26 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Puerto Rico coach Manolo Cintron has confirmed that Carlos Arroyo will not play on Sunday against Germany in the final game of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The side that wins will advance to the Beijing Games while the losing team will go home for the summer. NBA star Arroyo, Puerto ...

GRE - Zisis to undergo intensive treatment

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:46:43 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Nikos Zisis suffered a shoulder injury in Greece’s win over Puerto Rico on Saturday night but is expected to recover in time to play at the Beijing Games Zisis had an MRI which confirmed the 25-year old guard has a second degree acromioclavicular injury. Greece coach Panagiotis Yannakis, ...

Germany - Puerto Rico, Game Preview

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:25:48 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Who is going to win the third ticket? Croatia and Greece have already packed for Beijing, and the question is, who will follow them on the Silk Road: Germany, or Puerto Rico? The Germans crave for this qualification, and don’t try to hide it. They long to dedicate it to Dirk Nowitzki (30, ...

GRE/PUR – Greece overpower Puerto Rico to clinch Olympic place

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:03:37 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Greece reconfirmed their standing as one of the leading sides in international basketball with an 88-63 blowout win over Puerto Rico on Saturday to clinch a place in the Beijing Games. Dimitris Diamantidis led six players in double figures with 15 points in their semi-final triumph over Manolo ...

CRO/GER – Croatia return to Olympics with victory over Germany

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:32:55 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Germany got 30 points and 13 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki but Croatia overcame his heroic performance and won the semi-final at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Saturday in Athens to reach the Beijing Games. Looking to return to the glory days that once saw greats like Toni Kukoc and the late ...

PUR/GRE/GER/CRO - Arroyo's Puerto Rico, Nowitzki's Germany seen around the world

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:49:38 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - The huge Puerto Rican community in America has been able to watch Carlos Arroyo and the national team battle for one of the three remaining spots at the Beijing Games this weekend in Athens. The prestigious FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which also has superstars like Dirk Nowitzki of Germany fighting for ...

PUR/GRE - Second Semi-Final preview

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:56:16 GMT

ATHENS (2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - On Saturday, Greece and Puerto Rico are vying for one of the two tickets that lead directly to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament. The winner automatically qualifies, whereas the defeated team will have a second chance in the qualification game Sunday. The Greek team has the home advantage, ...

GER/CRO - First Semi-Final preview

rss-editor@fiba.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:47:48 GMT

ATHENS (2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Those who think that the biggest challenge for the Croats is to participate in the Olympic tournament are wrong. What excites them most is to beat Dirk Nowitzki. Besides, they know that only with a win against the team led by the Dallas Mavericks superstar they can be back in the Olympic Games for the ...

GRE/NZL - Greece cut down Tall Blacks to reach semi-final

rss-editor@fiba.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:00:29 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Greece thrashed New Zealand 75-48 and cruised into a semi-final showdown against Puerto Rico at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Panagiotis Yannakis' team, employing full-court pressure, opened up a 15-5 lead midway through the opening period and gradually pulled away. The Greeks, made 24 of 41 ...

GER/BRA - Roller, Germany hot up from long range and down Brazil

rss-editor@fiba.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:00:17 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Germany used a big second-quarter run as a launch pad for a 78-65 victory over Brazil to reach the semi-finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Dirk Bauermann's team trailed 21-17 but then outscored the Brazilians 28-5 run in the last six and a half minutes before the break to take a commanding ...

PUR/SLO – Surprise package Puerto Rico shoot down Slovenia

rss-editor@fiba.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:44:24 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Puerto Rico made seven three-pointers in the third quarter and then withstood a brave fight-back by Slovenia to advance to the semi-finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Puerto Rico got a game-high 17 points from Carlos Arroyo in the 81-70 victory. Next up for Manolo Cintron’s team are Greece, unless New Zealand are able to upset the qualifying tournament hosts later Friday. “After our loss to Croatia, we had a really good practice,” Puerto Rico guard Jose Barea said.

CRO/CAN – Tough as nails defense leads Croatia past Canada

rss-editor@fiba.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:23:10 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – Classy Croatia used a sterling defensive effort and excellent shooting to pull away from Canada on Friday in the first quarter-final at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Croatians ...

NZL - As if facing sixth-ranked Greece on their home floor wasn't enough

rss-editor@fiba.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:33:48 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournamenent) - While manning-up with a team full of European superstars on court, the New Zealand Tall Blacks will also have to deal with 20,000 home fans and the pressure of playing for their Olympic lives when they meet Greece in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens (7am NZ ...

GRE - Ready for the great challenge

rss-editor@fiba.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:32:49 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men)The Greek players, at the press conference they had this afternoon with members of the press in view of tomorrow’s quarterfinal encounter in the FIBA O. Q. T. against New Zealand, stated totally up to facing their great challenge to win a birth in the Olympic Games of Beijing. Vassilis ...

GRE/BRA - Greeks too strong for Brazil in Group A decider

rss-editor@fiba.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:08:23 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Greece marched into a quarter-final against New Zealand at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament with another strong display against a good Brazil. Antonis Fotsis led the Greeks with 18 points as they clinched first place in Group A with an 89-69 victory.

GER/NZL - Nowitzki/Kaman one-two punch too much for Tall Blacks

rss-editor@fiba.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:48:13 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Germany put paid to a gritty New Zealand on Wednesday night and provided plenty of evidence that one of the three spots for the Beijing Games could be theirs by the end of the week. Dirk Nowitzki had 35 points - 17 in each half - while new national team center Chris Kaman scored 20 in an 89-71 triumph to secure first place in Group B.

CRO/PUR – Croatia dig in, beat Puerto Rico to first place in Group D

rss-editor@fiba.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:03:58 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – Croatia overcame an early 17-point deficit and pulled away for a 95-81 triumph over Puerto Rico on Wednesday to claim first place in Group D of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Davor Kus and Marko Tomas each poured in 15 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Croatians, who now face Canada in a quarter-final on Friday. The defeat means that Puerto Rico must take on Slovenia. “We’ve just got to learn how to protect a lead,” Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo said. “We know teams are going to make their runs, but we need to stay true to what we do.”

CAN/KOR – Rock-solid Canada strike back to stun Korea and reach quarter-final

rss-editor@fiba.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:03:32 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – Canada shocked Korea with a second-half comeback for the ages to keep their hopes of reaching the Beijing Games alive. Leo Rautins’ team trailed by 18 points early in the second half ...

CRO – Markota knocked out of qualifiers with meniscus injury

rss-editor@fiba.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:44:53 GMT

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) – If Croatia are going to win a spot at the Beijing Games, they will have to do it with 11 players after losing Damir Markota to meniscus injury. The 2.09 Markota hurt his knee in Monday’s win against Cameroon and has flown home to have an operation. Markota will be sidelined for at least ...