After a first win to Egypt (FIBA ranked 40th), the Dominican Republic national basketball team (FIBA ranked 19th) succumbed to the powerful arm of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The NBA star player of the Greece national team (ranked 14th) scored 32 points in the game. The DR lost 82-109 during the qualifier game in the series played in Pireaus, Greece.
In the game against Greece, the DR’s only NBA player, Chris Duarte scored 26 points.
Listin Diario reports that the results of Olympic Qualifier Group B, in which the DR plays with Egypt and Greece, have been those expected. Yet, this is not the case for Group B (New Zealand, Croatia and Slovenia). In Group B, unexpectedly Croatia defeated Slovenia that has NBA star Luka Doncinc on the team. Slovenia is ranked 11th, New Zealand is ranked 21st and Croatia is ranked 30th.
The DR would compete against the winner of Group B, if it moves on in its quest to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Listin Diario writes on what is next for the DR that gets a day of rest as Greece plays Egypt in Group B.
Listin Diario writes that depending on the result of this encounter, along with the outcome of Group A, the Dominican team will know its fate and potential opponent in a possible semifinal.
So far, New Zealand is now (1-0) after defeating Croatia (1-1) 90-86, the team that on its first day of play in the qualifiers had defeated Slovenia (0-1).
Listin Diario explains that Thursday’s match between New Zealand and Slovenia will determine the qualifiers for the B side.
A Greece win would give the Dominicans second place and a semifinal clash with the top team from the other group. If Egypt wins, the Dominican Republic would be eliminated. Greece is eliminated if they lose by at least 42 points.
Croatia has already secured their spot in the semifinal. They finish first if Slovenia defeats New Zealand by 28 points. They will be second if New Zealand wins or if Slovenia wins by 29 or more points.
New Zealand finishes first if they win, second if they lose by no more than nine points, and are out if they lose by 10 or more.
Slovenia qualifies if they win by 10 or more points, finish first if they win by 29 or more points, and are out if they lose or win by up to nine points.
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FIBA Slovenia vs Croatia
4 July 2024