CANTU (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Croatia should not go into the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin with lofty expectations - especially since their presence in Italy is a gift, according to veteran guard Roko Leni Ukic.

Croatia, coached by Velimir Perasovic, hosted Group Phase games at EuroBasket 2015 in Zagreb and advanced to the Round of 16 but they crashed to a heavy defeat to the Czech Republic. They had gone into the tournament targeting at least a top-seven finish to claim an OQT berth so the 80-59 drubbing by the Czechs was a tough pill to swallow.

The Croatians entered the OQT field after Italy, Serbia and the Philippines were named as hosts for the events.

It would be naive to give either any forecast or talk about any expectations. We have to be aware of the fact that our participation in this qualification is - above all - a coincidence and a gift, and not something we have earned or deserved. - Ukic

"All teams who fight to get a spot at the Olympic Games have to lock themselves behind closed doors without big announcements and try to do their job as well as possible and hope for the best outcome."

Croatia, says the 31-year-old who played at the 2008 Olympics and at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cups, has many issues to address.

Croatia must find a successor for coach Velimir Perasovic (CRO) 

"We still don't have a coach," he said. "We don't know anything about plans or programs. There won't be much time for special preparations."

Ukic does have a positive experience from the one FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament he took part in, helping Croatia get through the 2008 OQT in Athens to reach the Beijing Games.

The Acqua Vitasnella Cantu playmaker believes it's too early to analyze the groups at the Turin OQT, where Croatia were drawn into Group B with Tunisia and hosts Italy while Greece, Mexico and Iran are in Group A.

We can comment on this from different viewpoints depending on how we look it, but in the end everything will depend on the physical shape of each team that arrives, the players who play - both for the others and for us. - Ukic

The Croatians have had ups and downs over the years. At EuroBasket 2009, they were among the pre-tournament favorites but lost in the Quarter-Finals. They had high hopes at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup yet lost to France in the Round of 16. Last year's showing at EuroBasket piled on the misery.

Ukic is clearly still feeling the effects of his country's latest setback against the Czechs.

"We aren't always hopeful and in the end it never turns out how it should be," he said.

As Ukic plies his trade in Italy, he was willing to offer an assessment on the potential strength of the OQT host team. The Azzurri lost in the Quarter-Finals last year at the EuroBasket, falling to Lithuania after overtime.

"It's a very talented generation," Ukic said. "Regarding offense, they are always in a good mood. But, it's also a team without a real center. They have a great coach, but that doesn't mean anything. We are all in the same position, because there won't be much time."

FIBA