SHENZHEN (China) - Andrei Kirilenko knows very well how challenging  it's going to be for his Russia team to advance from the First Round of the 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup - never mind challenge for a medal.

After seeing his country drawn in Group B on Saturday with Argentina, Korea and Nigeria, the former Russia playing great, who now serves as president of the country's basketball federation, had this warning for his players.

"In the World Cup," he said, "you can sleep one quarter and you're done."

In other words, Russia better hit the ground running and bring their A game each time out or they will have an early exit.

When it comes to Russia's bid to get out of the opening two rounds, there is no room for error. Firstly, Russia must finish in the top two of Group B and then, they must end up among the top two in a Second Round group in order to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

The bigger challenge would appear to be in the First Round because in the Second Round, the top two sides from Group B will compete against the top two countries that come out of a Group A that consists of China, Poland, Venezuela and Cote d'Ivoire.

Getting out of Group B is going to be both physically and mentally demanding.

"Argentina, a very experienced team," Kirilenko said. "Argentina is obviously the biggest menace for us, a very experienced team, always hustling, always tough players that know how to play basketball. And we actually face them before the tournament so we'll have a chance to practice against them a little bit.

"The Nigeria team, very athletic, strong physical. We can’t start playing a physical game with them. We have to be smart, slow it down a little bit. Play it very tactical. And the Korea team, very fast, a lot of 3-point shooters. On the best day, you’re going to be killed by the distance. So we have to close the distance, not let them run a lot, put them under the basket. It’s a tactician game. All three teams present a different kind of menace."

Kirilenko remembers taking on each when he was the leading player in the Russia team.

"I remember Nigeria and Korea, we played them in the Qualification Tournament (OQT) before the Olympics in 2012," he said.

Russia hammered Korea in their first contest of the OQT in Venezuela, 91-56, and they later edged Nigeria, 85-77 to clinch a spot in the London Games. Russia then defeated Argentina in the Bronze Medal Game at the Olympics in England.

Dmitriy Khvostov, Vitaliy Fridzon, Sergey Karasev, Aleksei Shved, Semen Antonov and Timofey Mozgov were all teammates of Kirilenko at the time continue to play for the national team.

If Russia can get to the knockout round, Kirilenko expressed the opinion that anything is possible.

"Looking at the age of our team, average age of 30, potentially we can fight for a medal," he said. "For them (veterans), it’s a great chance to show themselves, and try and get something out of this group and bring a medal home. It’s looking like it’s probably going to be the best World Cup ever in basketball, a lot of attention, so it's a great chance for those guys."

At bare minimum, he said, "I’m going to be very disappointed if we don’t make it out of the (First Round) group."

"LOOKING AT OUR TEAM, AVERAGE AGE OF 30, POTENTIALLY WE CAN FIGHT FOR A MEDAL. IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BEST WORLD CUP EVER IN BASKETBALL, A LOT OF ATTENTION, SO IT'S A GREAT CHANCE FOR THOSE GUYS."- Kirilenko

Kirilenko believes Russia could have landed in a much tougher position.

"Look at Group H," he said. "I hate this group already. This group with Canada, Senegal, Lithuania, Australia - it’s like everybody can beat everybody."

Kirilenko had another strong opinion about the two-time defending champions USA.

If many fans believe the Americans to be unbeatable, Kirilenko thinks otherwise.

"Of course not," he said. "It’s one game when it comes to Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final."

FIBA