ATHENS (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Greece point guard Kostas Sloukas has been lost for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin because of a plantar fasciitis injury.

The Fenerbahce playmaker, bothered by the problem in recent weeks, had hoped to shake it off in time to represent his country in Italy but was unsuccessful.

Greece now have 14 players in the squad with their OQT tipping off on 4 July against Iran. The Greeks will also face Mexico in Group A, with the top two sides advancing to a Semi-Final to take on Croatia, Italy or Tunisia out of Group B. The Semi-Final winners will square off in a do-or-die game for Olympic qualification.

Point guards Evangelos Mantzaris, Tyler Dorsey and Yannis Athinaiou are contending for spots on the final roster and could take Sloukas's minutes. Dorsey was a real hit for Greece at last year's FIBA U19 World Championship.

Greece also have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who can play minutes at the point. 

The starting floor general is likely to be Nick Calathes, one of Greece's top players in recent years. He excelled for Greece the last couple of years and made some outstanding plays at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Calathes started at last year's EuroBasket in Croatia and France and had a good connection on the court with Greece's high-flying forward Antetokounmpo.

The Greeks hosted the OQT in 2008 and claimed one of three spots on offer for the Beijing Games but they came up short of qualification for the London Games at the OQT in Venezuela in 2012.

FIBA