VICTORIA (Canada) - It’s finally game day.

On Monday, the eve of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, the six competing teams held pre-event press conferences to preview their teams and matchups ahead of the action.

Here are the best quotes from the day.

CANADA

On opposing players and coaches touting them as the favorites to win the OQT in Victoria: “I don’t feel like we’re the hunted because in my mind, we haven’t done anything yet. Yes, we have a talented group of players, but we’ve got to put it all together. We’ve got to be a team out there and go get the job done. We’ve had talented groups before, so that is a hell of a compliment from those guys. But at the end of the day, everybody’s professional, we all lace up our shoes the same way, and they’ve got great teams as well, so we’ve got to go out and put it all together." - Cory JOSEPH

On their opportunity to qualify for their first Olympics since 2000: “It would mean a lot. I’ve been at this for a long time. I started about 14, 15 years ago with the younger team, 10 years ago with the senior team. I’ve been trying to get there ever since. So it would mean a lot for us to make it, for sure. I think it would mean a lot for our country. I think our country is kind of thirsty for it. I’m definitely thirsty for it. So you know it would mean a lot for everybody that’s involved in this whole nation.”           - Cory JOSEPH

CZECH REPUBLIC

On the growing popularity of basketball in the country: “It was always about soccer and ice hockey in our country, but what we did two years ago (finishing sixth at the FIBA World Cup), I think was something that no one ever expected. We kind of put basketball on the map in Czech Republic and people kind of went crazy about it. … It definitely made the sport more popular and that’s what we all want at the end of the day. … We are fighting to put that importance of basketball back on peoples’ mind. Hopefully we can qualify for the Olympics. That will be a dream come true for everybody.” - Tomas SATORANSKY

“As a player, you want to feel the pressure. I take big responsibility for this group. I’ve been playing for my national team for a long time and I think I’m always one of the leaders and you have to kind of live with that kind of pressure and be able to perform. I think my last Olympic qualifications, I didn’t meet those standards very well. So I think I’m a little more experienced, more ready. Every summer is a big challenge for me because I want to do good for this group and I know that I have that kind of pressure on my shoulders. But at the end of the day, when the game starts, you really don’t think about anything other than winning.” - Tomas SATORANSKY

GREECE

On their key absences, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Vassilis Spanoulis: “It’s a big challenge for everybody to make a step up, but excuses are for guys that don’t believe in themselves. We’re over here because we trust our team and we’re coming to fight here. For sure, we need also a little bit of luck, because these kind of games, we need luck buy our side. But we have to control the game and follow our instructions that we set before the game.” - Kostas SLOUKAS

On their win against the United States and silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Cup: “I went immediately out with my friends to celebrate in the streets, because it’s something special that probably will not happen again. For sure it inspired us, because it’s something special and everybody dreams to be over there and to (beat) the best basketball team in the world, ever.” – Kostas SLOUKAS

TURKEY

On their opportunity to qualify for the first Olympics since 1952: “This is on my bucket list. I’ve obviously played a lot of World Cups, European championships, but never Olympics. This is one of the toughest tournaments to make. And when you look at our group, only one team is going to make it out of six, so it’s not an easy task to achieve.” - Ersan ILYASOVA

CHINA

On their young roster, which is missing star Yi Jianlian and other key players: “We’re actually in the transition period, especially the veteran players. (Right now we have more players from the) younger generations, especially for this tournament right now. … Through this international game experience … they can prove themselves for better performance on the basketball court.” - Coach Feng DU

URUGUAY

On their opportunity to qualify for their first Olympics since 1984: “For us it’s very exciting to be here, to face this kind of teams and competing at this level. Uruguay has been here for a long time and this is the first time in 35 years we’re here. … It will be a big challenge for us. We are ready. … I’m very proud and I’m very sure that we will show our best basketball this week - Bruno FITIPALDO

ON TEAM CANADA

“Obviously Canada is the favorite of this group in my mind. When you put them down on paper, I would say they’re the second-best team in the world if you would go just by names. Obviously it’s a little different in tournaments like this when you don’t have that kind of experience and you never play under FIBA basketball rules, so that’s going to be one of the challenges that’s going to be presented for them, but they have great names. Most of their NBA guys have great role on their teams, some of them are stars. So it’s going to be interesting to see how are they able to put the group together and how they’re going to be able to perform at home.” - Tomas SATORANSKY, Czech Republic

“We certainly know their talent. We certainly know that their coach is outstanding. But we don’t know what they’re going to run offensively, defensively, their scheme. We can just go from the Toronto Raptors (film) or from past Canadian teams, but I don’t think that’s much of a help. The guys that we do know about, obviously I’ve watched them play this year, I recruited quite a few of them back in my college days, and we know what we’re up against. They all shoot it well, they put it on the floor well, they can all play.” - Greece coach Rick PITINO

ON VICTORIA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

“The worst part about the (bubble) situation is Vancouver, Victoria, are two of the most beautiful places in the world and I’d love to have my players see it. Because they see outside a little bit and that’s the problem with the virus and being with COVID in a bubble. But I wish they could see Victoria and how beautiful it is, and Vancouver was absolutely spectacular.” - Greece coach Rick PITINO

“For us, also myself, this is the second time coming here for a basketball tournament. Last time the fans, I admire them, also give them credit, because the local fans here show they’re passionate for basketball.” - China coach Feng DU